what are the relative positions of the gas giants and the kuiper belt
Kuiper belt
The classical Kuiper belt appears to be a composite of two separate populations . The first , known as the `` dynamically cold '' population , has orbits much like the planets ; nearly circular , with an orbital eccentricity of less than 0.1 , and with relatively low inclinations up to about 10 ° ( they lie close to the plane of the Solar System rather than at an angle ) . The cold population also contain a concentration of objects , referred to as the kernel , with semi-major axes at 44 -- 44.5 AU . The second , the `` dynamically hot '' population , has orbits much more inclined to the ecliptic , by up to 30 ° . The two populations have been named this way not because of any major difference in temperature , but from analogy to particles in a gas , which increase their relative velocity as they become heated up . Not only are the two populations in different orbits , the cold population also differs in color and albedo , being redder and brighter , has a larger fraction of binary objects , has a different size distribution , and lacks very large objects . The difference in colors may be a reflection of different compositions , which suggests they formed in different regions . The hot population is proposed to have formed near Neptune 's original orbit and to have been scattered out during the migration of the giant planets . The cold population , on the other hand , has been proposed to have formed more or less in its current position because the loose binaries would be unlikely to survive encounters with Neptune . Although the Nice model appears to be able to at least partially explain a compositional difference , it has also been suggested the color difference may reflect differences in surface evolution .
The classical Kuiper belt appears to be a composite of two separate populations . The first , known as the `` dynamically cold '' population , has orbits much like the planets ; nearly circular , with an orbital eccentricity of less than 0.1 , and with relatively low inclinations up to about 10 ° ( they lie close to the plane of the Solar System rather than at an angle ) . The cold population also contain a concentration of objects , referred to as the kernel , with semi-major axes at 44 -- 44.5 AU . The second , the `` dynamically hot '' population , has orbits much more inclined to the ecliptic , by up to 30 ° . The two populations have been named this way not because of any major difference in temperature , but from analogy to particles in a gas , which increase their relative velocity as they become heated up . Not only are the two populations in different orbits , the cold population also differs in color and albedo , being redder and brighter , has a larger fraction of binary objects , has a different size distribution , and lacks very large objects . The difference in colors may be a reflection of different compositions , which suggests they formed in different regions . The hot population is proposed to have formed near Neptune 's original orbit and to have been scattered out during the migration of the giant planets . The cold population , on the other hand , has been proposed to have formed more or less in its current position because the loose binaries would be unlikely to survive encounters with Neptune . Although the Nice model appears to be able to at least partially explain a compositional difference , it has also been suggested the color difference may reflect differences in surface evolution .