Astronomers Detect Possible Primordial Cluster Beyond Neptune

Astronomers may have uncovered a previously unknown ancient structure deep within the Kuiper Belt potentially offering a rare glimpse into the early Solar System. A research team led by Princeton astrophysicist Aamir Siraj has identified a dense group of icy bodies located around 43 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun, possibly forming a “primordial cluster” that has remained almost completely undisturbed for billions of years. The Kuiper Belt, often called the Solar System’s “third region,” stretches from 30–50 AU and contains millions of icy remnants from the era of planet formation. While earlier studies revealed that the region is not uniform, new findings indicate even more complexity.