Where it all started

Where the kuiper belt all started! 

Came to light in 1992 Dave Jewitt and Jane Luu in 1992 they were both on the same mindset that the solar system was not empty. Beginning in 1987 they dug deep to find objects beyond Neptune. After 5 years of looking through the University of Hawaii's 2.2m Telescope. They found a reddish colored peak 44 AU from the sun even more distant than Pluto and they wanted to name it "Smiley". but has been cataloged as "1992 GB1". Then came Gernard Kuiper with his insights adding on to theirs.


Dave Jewitt and Jane Luu

 

Dave Jewitt and Jane Luu Image Citation

This is the image of the first citing of QB1



GB1 Citation

University of Hawaii's 2.2m telescope



University of Hawaii's 2.2m telescope

The region is named for the astronomer who predicted its existence Gernard Kuiper. Sometimes called Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt. Recognizing the independent and earlier discussion by Kenneth Edgeworth. The Kuiper Belt objects get their names from diverse mythologies. Eris is named for the greek goddess of discord and strife. Haumea named for a Hawaiian goddess of fertility and childbirth.Pluto was named after the greek god of underworld. Sedna was greek god of sea,Salcia was goddess of sea water,Makemake was greek god of strife and discord,Orcus was greek god of diety hades. The comets are named for the person who discovered them.


Here are the symbols the Kuiper Objects are associated with

Varuna

Ixion


Sedna


Quaoar


Orcus


Makemake


Haumea


Salacia


Eris


Kuiper Belt Symbols Citation




Significant Dates

• 1943: Astronomer Kenneth Edgeworth suggests that a reservoir of comets and larger bodies resides beyond the planets.

• 1951: Astronomer Gerard Kuiper predicts the existence of a belt of icy objects just beyond the orbit of Neptune.

• 1992: After five years of searching, astronomers David Jewitt and Jane Luu discover the first KBO, 1992QB1.

• 2002: Scientists using the 48-inch Oschin telescope at Palomar Observatory find Quaoar, the first large KBO hundreds of kilometers in diameter. This object was photographed in 1980, but was not noticed in those images.

• 2004: Astronomers using the 48-inch Oschin telescope announce the discovery of Sedna (2003VB12).

• 2005:Astronomers announce the discovery of 2003UB313. This object, later named Eris, is slightly larger than Pluto.

• 2008: The Kuiper Belt object provisionally known as 2005FY9 "Easterbunny" is recognized in July as a dwarf planet and named Makemake after the Polynesian (Rapa Nui) creation god. In September, 2003EL61 "Santa" was designated a dwarf planet and given the name Haumea after the Hawaiian goddess of fertility and childbirth.

Citations

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/kbos/indepth