What do scientists primarily study in the Kuiper Belt?

The Kuiper Belt is a region of the Solar System that extends beyond the orbit of Neptune and is primarily populated by small bodies, including dwarf planets and comets. Scientists focus on studying these objects because they are considered remnants from the early Solar System, providing valuable insights into its formation and evolution.

Dwarf planets in the Kuiper Belt, such as Pluto, Haumea, and Makemake, illustrate the diversity of objects in this distant region and help researchers understand planetary processes. Additionally, the Kuiper Belt is rich in comets, which are icy bodies that can provide clues about the primordial materials that formed the Solar System.

While asteroids are primarily found in the asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter, and gas giants refer to larger planets like Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, the Kuiper Belt's focus is distinctly on the icy bodies that characterize it. This specificity is why dwarf planets and comets are central to scientists' studies in the Kuiper Belt.