Kuiper belt
See also: Kuiper Belt
English
Etymology
Named after the astronomer Gerard Kuiper (1905-1973); and belt.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈkaɪ.pə(ɹ).bɛlt/, IPA(key): /ˈkʌɪpə bɛlt/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈkaɪ.pɚ.bɛlt/
- Hyphenation: Kui‧per belt
Note: “Kuiper” is a Dutch surname and may also be pronounced in the Dutch manner. Gerard Kuiper himself lived in the U.S. and used the American pronunciation above. The Dutch word kuiper and the English word cooper have the same etymology and meaning, so that's another possibility.
Proper noun
- (astronomy) The Kuiper Belt, a region of space between 30 and 50 astronomical units from the Sun, roughly confined within a thick band around the ecliptic of the Solar System. This area is populated by many thousands of trans-Neptunian objects.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
region of space in the Solar System
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Noun
Kuiper belt (plural Kuiper belts)
- (astronomy) a type of asteroid belt found in the outer regions of planetary systems that forms an annular belt or disc around the system's center, lying beyond the planetary formation region for major planets, which may extend outwards to reach the inner Oort cloud