The mysterious object that shouldn’t exist and baffles scientists by defying cosmic logic
The baffling icy object found in the farthest reaches of our solar system.
The universe holds countless mysteries, but some manage to surprise us more than others and completely change our understanding of reality. Such is the case with a baffling icy object, known as 2002 XV93, which, in theory, shouldn’t exist as we know it. It is a tiny body, smaller than Pluto, that has baffled the scientific community with its unexpected atmosphere—a phenomenon that defies current models of planetary physics.
How is it possible for an object with such weak gravity to retain gas? Astronomers believe they have found evidence that 2002 XV93 has an extremely tenuous atmosphere, even though its size and gravity should prevent it from retaining gases according to current theories. Ko Arimatsu, an astronomer at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, explains that “this discovery suggests that small icy worlds beyond Neptune may not be as inactive or unchanging as we often assumed. Until now, Pluto was the only trans-Neptunian object with a confirmed atmosphere.”
A discovery that changes our view of small icy worlds
Ko Arimatsu’s team tracked the trajectory of 2002 XV93 using a network of telescopes in Japan. In early 2024, these instruments observed the object passing in front of a distant star. Such phenomena, known as occultations, make it possible to detect the presence of an atmosphere around bodies in the solar system.
The gradual dimming of the star during the occultation is best explained by its light passing through a thin layer of gas. The data indicate that this atmosphere would have a pressure of approximately one ten-millionth of Earth’s atmospheric pressure.
What could be the explanation? Researchers are considering several hypotheses, including as-yet-unknown physical processes, unusual surface properties, or seasonal effects capable of temporarily releasing gases. They also consider the possibility that an icy body, similar to a comet, may have recently collided with 2002 XV93, generating a cloud of gas around it, or even that the object itself periodically ejects material through cryovolcanoes on its surface.
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“Future observations will be important,” concludes Ko Arimatsu. The discovery provides yet another example of how objects located in the outermost regions of the solar system continue to challenge current models in planetary science.
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