Changes

== Naming conventions ==

== Naming conventions ==

A significant number of [[Astronomy|astronomers]] today insist that all trans-Neptunian objects, regardless of whether Neptune has any gravitational influence upon them, should be called [[Kuiper belt]] objects.<ref name=Jewitt>Jewitt, David. "[http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/faculty/jewitt/kb.html Kuiper Belt]." University of Hawaii, n.d. Accessed June 20, 2008.</ref><ref name=Johnston>Johnston, William Robert. "[http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/astro/tnos.html Trans-Neptunian Objects]." October 1, 2007. Accessed June 24, 2008.</ref>But today, an increasing number of astronomers distinguish the Kuiper belt from other trans-Neptunian regions, primarily using orbital characteristics as the criterion for this distinction.<ref name=planetsoc2>"[http://www.planetary.org/explore/topics/trans_neptunian_objects/facts.html Types of Trans-Neptunian Objects]." The Planetary Society, n.d. Accessed June 24, 2008.</ref>

A significant number of [[Astronomy|astronomers]] today insist that all trans-Neptunian objects, regardless of whether Neptune has any gravitational influence upon them, should be called [[Kuiper belt]] objects.<ref name=Jewitt>Jewitt, David. "[http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/faculty/jewitt/kb.html Kuiper Belt]." University of Hawaii, n.d. Accessed June 20, 2008.</ref><ref name=Johnston>Johnston, William Robert. "[http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/astro/tnos.html Trans-Neptunian Objects]." October 1, 2007. Accessed June 24, 2008.</ref> But today, an increasing number of astronomers distinguish the Kuiper belt from other trans-Neptunian regions, primarily using orbital characteristics as the criterion for this distinction.<ref name=planetsoc2>"[http://www.planetary.org/explore/topics/trans_neptunian_objects/facts.html Types of Trans-Neptunian Objects]." The Planetary Society, n.d. Accessed June 24, 2008.</ref>

== Primary theoretical considerations ==

== Primary theoretical considerations ==

* 1993 RO, the next plutino discovered after Pluto<ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/trans-neptunian-object</ref>

* 1993 RO, the next plutino discovered after Pluto<ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/trans-neptunian-object</ref>

The [[New Horizons mission|New Horizons]] rocket probe, passed through the Plutonian system in June of 2015. It thus became the first rocket probe to study a Trans-Neptunian object. Mission planners hope to steer the probe to study at least two other Kuiper belt objects in addition to Pluto.

The [[New Horizons mission|New Horizons]] rocket probe, passed through the Plutonian system in June 2015. It thus became the first rocket probe to study a Trans-Neptunian object. Mission planners hope to steer the probe to study at least two other Kuiper belt objects in addition to Pluto.

== References ==

== References ==