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SwRI study suggests large mound structures on Kuiper belt object Arrokoth may have common origin

A new SwRI study posits that the large mounds on Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth are similar in size and shape, suggesting a common origin. This finding supports the streaming instability model of planetesimal formation, where gentle collision speeds allowed objects to accumulate and form Arrokoth.

SourceSouthwest Research Institute·JournalThe Planetary Science Journal·TypeObservational study·DateOct 3, 2023

A New Planet Is Born?

Researchers using Hubble Space Telescope spot large dust particles in rings around three stars, suggesting planets may be forming. The observations reveal a critical early stage in planetary evolution, with the potential for millions of years of dust grain aggregation to form planets.

SourceNew Scientist·JournalThe New Scientist·DateOct 21, 1998