National Astronomical Observatory and others discover an outer Solar System object with an atmosphere—the first found beyond Pluto

National Astronomical Observatory researchers confirmed an extremely thin atmosphere on trans-Neptunian object 2002 XV93.

The finding came from analysis of a stellar occultation observed in January 2024.

It is the first atmosphere detected on a body beyond Pluto, not just another outer solar system object.

The result could help explain when small distant bodies can retain or replenish atmospheres.