Trans-Neptunian objects in fiction
Encyclopedia
The region of the Solar System
beyond Neptune contains sparse populations of small icy objects. These include the Kuiper belt
, with its well-known member Pluto
, and other plutoids including Haumea and Makemake. Further out is the scattered disk, a group which includes Eris
, the largest known dwarf planet
, and even more distant detached objects such as Sedna
.
In the past, the use of this area of the solar system as a setting for science fiction
has been limited to Pluto
and completely fictional planets. However, as more trans-Neptunian object
s have been discovered and the region has become better understood by astronomers, works of fiction have begun to reflect the region more extensively and realistically.
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
beyond Neptune contains sparse populations of small icy objects. These include the Kuiper belt
Kuiper belt
The Kuiper belt , sometimes called the Edgeworth–Kuiper belt, is a region of the Solar System beyond the planets extending from the orbit of Neptune to approximately 50 AU from the Sun. It is similar to the asteroid belt, although it is far larger—20 times as wide and 20 to 200 times as massive...
, with its well-known member Pluto
Pluto
Pluto, formal designation 134340 Pluto, is the second-most-massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the tenth-most-massive body observed directly orbiting the Sun...
, and other plutoids including Haumea and Makemake. Further out is the scattered disk, a group which includes Eris
Eris (dwarf planet)
Eris, formal designation 136199 Eris, is the most massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the ninth most massive body known to orbit the Sun directly...
, the largest known dwarf planet
Dwarf planet
A dwarf planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union , is a celestial body orbiting the Sun that is massive enough to be spherical as a result of its own gravity but has not cleared its neighboring region of planetesimals and is not a satellite...
, and even more distant detached objects such as Sedna
90377 Sedna
90377 Sedna is a trans-Neptunian object discovered in 2003, which was about three times as far from the Sun as Neptune. For most of its orbit it is even further from the Sun, with its aphelion estimated at 960 astronomical units , making it one of the most distant known objects in the Solar System...
.
In the past, the use of this area of the solar system as a setting for science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
has been limited to Pluto
Pluto in fiction
Pluto has been featured in many instances of science fiction and popular culture. Initially classified as a planet upon its discovery in 1930, Pluto has also received considerable publicity following a 2006 definition of planet decree, which dubbed it a dwarf planet.- Literature :* "The Whisperer...
and completely fictional planets. However, as more trans-Neptunian object
Trans-Neptunian object
A trans-Neptunian object is any minor planet in the Solar System that orbits the Sun at a greater distance on average than Neptune.The first trans-Neptunian object to be discovered was Pluto in 1930...
s have been discovered and the region has become better understood by astronomers, works of fiction have begun to reflect the region more extensively and realistically.
Literature
- Saturn's ChildrenSaturn's Children (Stross novel)Saturn's Children is a 2008 science fiction novel by British author Charles Stross. Stross has said that it is "a space opera and late-period Heinlein tribute"...
(2008), novel by Charles StrossCharles StrossCharles David George "Charlie" Stross is a British writer of science fiction, Lovecraftian horror and fantasy. He was born in Leeds.Stross specialises in hard science fiction and space opera...
. An intelligent robot in the service of a shadowy organisation travels throughout the Solar System, with the plot climax on Eris.
Film and television
- In "The Griffin Equivalency", the fourth episode of the second season of The Big Bang TheoryThe Big Bang TheoryThe Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom serve as executive producers on the show, along with Steven Molaro. All three also serve as head writers...
, Rajesh KoothrappaliRajesh KoothrappaliRajesh Ramayan "Raj" Koothrappali, Ph.D. is a fictional character on the CBS television series The Big Bang Theory, portrayed by actor Kunal Nayyar....
is included in PeoplePeople (magazine)In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine's "30 Under 30 to watch" list for his discovery of a trans-Neptunian object beyond the Kuiper belt. Officially designated , Raj had nicknamed the body "PlanetPlanet HollywoodPlanet Hollywood, a restaurant inspired by the popular portrayal of Hollywood, was launched in New York on October 22, 1991, with the backing of Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.-History:...
BollywoodBollywoodBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
". The object is itself fictional, and no TNO has been assigned that designation.