Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why are Kuiper belt objects in Neptune’s 3:2 resonance called Plutinos?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
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.
Objects in the Kuiper belt that share a 3:2 orbital resonance with Neptune are called Plutinos because they exhibit the same orbital characteristics as the dwarf planet Pluto.
Like Pluto, these objects complete two orbits around the Sun in the exact time it takes Neptune to complete three. In recognition of this dynamical kinship, astronomers coined the term "Plutinos," which translates to "little Plutos," to describe this specific group of resonant Kuiper belt objects.12