Plutino

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TNOs and similar bodies

In astronomy, a plutino is a Pluto-like object, insofar as it has the same relative orbit as Pluto. These orbits are stabilized by an orbital resonance with Neptune, similar to Pluto's 3:2 orbital resonance. This means that plutinos complete 2 orbits around the Sun in the time it takes Neptune to complete 3 orbits. Plutinos form the inner part of the Kuiper belt. About 1/4 of known Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) are Plutinos.

Some known plutinos:

Since Pluto fits the 3:2 orbital resonance, it is sometimes convenient to include Pluto itself when referring to that orbital category of objects as plutinos. However, others argue that because plutino means little Pluto, Pluto itself can't be a little Pluto.

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Our Solar Systemedit
Sun | Mercury | Venus | Earth (Moon) | Mars | Asteroid belt
Jupiter | Saturn | Uranus | Neptune | Pluto | Kuiper belt | Scattered disc | Oort cloud
See also astronomical objects and the solar system's list of objects, sorted by radius or mass


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