Object Analysis

Quaoar (50000 Quaoar) is a dwarf planet located in the Kuiper Belt, beyond the orbit of Neptune. It was discovered in 2002 and is roughly 1,110 kilometers (690 miles) in diameter—about half the size of Pluto. It is named after a creation deity of the Tongva people.

Quaoar is remarkable for its ring system. In 2023, astronomers discovered a ring that sits much further away from the planet than predicted by the "Roche limit" theory. This suggests that the current understanding of how rings form and maintain themselves needs significant revision.

The surface of Quaoar shows evidence of water ice and methane. Its high density suggests it is rockier than many other Kuiper Belt objects. It has one known moon, Weywot, which likely formed from a collision. Quaoar is a key object in understanding the population and evolution of the icy "minor planets" in the far reaches of our solar system.