Dictionary

twotino en · NOUN

Etymology

Blend of two + plutino.

Meanings

1. Any astronomical object, on the apparent outer edge of the Kuiper Belt, whose orbit has a 1:2 resonance with the planet Neptune.
   • These objects have been given the name of twotinos (rhymes with "plutinos"). Interestingly, there are very few low-eccentricity TNOs beyond the twotinos. 2021, Barbara Ryden, Bradley M. Peterson, Foundations of Astrophysics, Cambridge University Press, page 276:
   • Plutinos are Kuiper belt objects in a 2:3 resonance (a = 39.4 AU) with Neptune and are named after Pluto since these bodies have orbits similar to Pluto. Twotinos are objects that are in a 1:2 resonance (a = 47.8 AU) with Neptune. 2017, Thomas H. Burbine, Asteroids, Cambridge University Press, page 234:
   • This provides a possible explanation for the low fraction of twotinos compared to plutinos in the Kuiper belt. 2009, A. C. Quillen, “Resonances in Galactic and Circumstellar Disks”, in G. Contopoulos, P. A. Patsis, editors, Chaos in Astronomy: Conference 2007, Springer, page 199:

Forms

Relateds

Kuiper cliff