A Strange Object Detected at Solar System's Edge

Astronomers have made a strange discovery near the edge of the solar system. They have discovered rings around a dwarf planet named Quaoar. Here’s why scientists are stunned. A planet’s rings reside within its Roche limit. It’s the distance within which its gravitational forces rip apart moons and other celestial bodies.

Rings outside this limit gradually merge to create moons within a few decades. But in the case of Quaoar, its rings orbit it at a distance of 4100 km or about 2550 miles from its center. That’s about four times its diameter and significantly further than Quaoar’s Roche limit. So this discovery has challenged our notion that rings can only exist inside the Roche limit. This shows there’s a lot to be discovered within the solar system. And some discoveries could challenge our understanding of the laws of physics.

[aquariandawn]

I'm going to start telling people they better stay outside my Roche Limit

[corbinhbucknerjr]

The Roche limit is more a function of the gravity related to an object, rather than just size. Maybe that little rock is a lot denser and has a more powerful gravity as a result.

[PaulMaudDib]

"I know that I know nothing."

Socrates 🤔

[MYSHA-rh]

it's strange that as we establish a law to understand space it comes out with something interesting to challenge the law

[FrankieAngels]

“There is a theory that, for once someone figures out the meaning of the universe, it will be replaced instantly with something even more incomprehensible.

There is another theory that this has already happened.” - Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

[Virjunior]

Wow. Surprised to see a science video that ISN'T clickbait. Challenging the Roche Limit is pretty heavy!

[srock]

They see that but can’t tell me if it’ll rain tomorrow.

[flatsixx]

It’s entirely possible that the ring system around Quaoar is relatively young and has not yet had enough time to spread out and be disrupted by tidal forces. Another possibility is that there is a small moon or other object in orbit around Quaoar that is helping to stabilize the ring system.
It is also worth noting that our understanding of the Roche limit is based on theoretical models and simplified assumptions about the structure and dynamics of celestial bodies. The actual behavior of ring systems and satellites may be more complex and dependent on a variety of factors, such as the composition and internal structure of the bodies involved.

[Filip.zelanto]

Quaor: rings where you going?

Rings: ...

[shogunate]

Sometimes once we get comfortable with believing a theory is truth we find out it is still just a theory.

[devbella]

I like how they’re called laws until they’re not

[djbqdqj]

Thanks for translating km into miles, I find so many videos where people aren't willing to do that or just don't don't... Now I can understand how far away those rings are and what kind of impact it has

[douglasdarling]

The most likely solution to the dilemma is that the rings are relatively recent and have not had time to coalesce into an orbiting body

[mileswithau]

It should be noted that Roache limits are not constants; they depend on the mass of two objects, not just the mass of one. For example, the earth does not have a Roache limit, but the Earth-Moon system does.

[DJWHITE_]

The Roche point is a function of an object’s density. Quaoar’s know moon, Waywot appears to be orbiting at an acceptable distance and maybe a contributing factor.

[Rafficarian]

Depends on the density of the base object, denser-stronger gravity field

[jatinsinghal]

As its said, there is a possibility of LITERALLY EVERYTHING you can think of

[chefgiovanni]

Smart people already know they better stay outside my Roche Limit .

[anthonynarozniak]

We think we know more than we really do

[snowy_trees]

“QWAUWOW”


bro lost all his braincells in 2 seconds

edit: this is the most likes i’ve ever gotten tysm!