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What is the kernel within the cold classical Kuiper belt population?
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Kuiper belt
An artist's rendition of a binary object in the Kuiper belt. The two objects depicted orbit each other at the edge of the solar system.
Within the cold classical Kuiper belt population, the "kernel" is a distinct subpopulation consisting of approximately 25,000 objects with diameters larger than 100 km.1
These objects are characterized by specific orbital parameters:
* Semimajor axes: Between 43.8 and 44.4 AU (6.55 billion and 6.64 billion km).1
* Orbital eccentricities: Between 0.03 and 0.08.1
* Inclination: A narrow distribution similar to the rest of the cold classical component.1
The kernel is part of the broader cold classical population, which is defined by a narrow distribution of orbital inclinations (about 2.6°) and mean orbital distances restricted to 42.5–47.2 AU.1