The Kuiper Belt is a region of the Solar System extending from about 30 to 55 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun, beyond the orbit of Neptune. It is similar to the Asteroid Belt but is much larger and more massive, containing millions of small icy bodies and several dwarf planets like Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris.
The concept of a belt of icy bodies beyond Neptune was first proposed by Kenneth Edgeworth in 1943, but it was Gerard Kuiper who, in 1951, gave the theory more prominence. Kuiper suggested that comets originate from this belt, although he thought that the primordial belt had largely been depleted, a view that has since been revised. The term "Kuiper Belt" was coined in his honor, although Kuiper did not predict the current observed distribution of the belt.
The first direct observation of a Kuiper Belt Object was made by David Jewitt and Jane Luu in 1992 when they discovered 15760 Albion. Since then, numerous KBOs have been observed, and missions like New Horizons have flown by Pluto and other Kuiper Belt Objects, providing invaluable data on their composition, geology, and atmospheres.
The study of the Kuiper Belt provides insights into the formation of the Solar System, the dynamics of celestial bodies, and the potential for life in other systems. It also plays a role in the distribution of comets into the inner Solar System, contributing to our understanding of the origins of water on Earth.