Since most orbits of KBOs are highly inclined, isn't it rather a "Kuiper cloud"? Most main belt objects are also more inclined than the eight recognized planets, but not as much as KBOs (and bodies beyond) which can orbit above the Sun's poles. Why isn't it called the Kuiper cloud then? Is it due to historical reasons (because the first discovered KBOs such as Pluto weren't as inclined as Eris for instance)?
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1$\begingroup$ Classical Kuiper belt is made up of two bodies 1)"dynamically cold" population, that 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° 2)"dynamically hot" population, has orbits much more inclined to the ecliptic, but does not exceed 30°. Hence, it is a belt and not a sphere per se. See this picture: imgur.com/Z0ynCFj $\endgroup$ – Nilay Ghosh Dec 23 '20 at 14:37
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$\begingroup$ @NilayGhosh A pretty thick belt. What is the one blue (classical) body that exceeds 45°? $\endgroup$ – Greenhorn Dec 23 '20 at 15:33
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$\begingroup$ @NilayGhosh Your comment looks like a good start for an answer... $\endgroup$ – B--rian Dec 30 '20 at 20:19
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$\begingroup$ @Greenhorn Some inclined KBOs: Eris with i ≈ 44°, 2004 XR190 with i ≈ 47°, the centaurs 2002 XU93 with i ≈ 78° and retrograde 2008 KV42 with i ≈ 104° $\endgroup$ – Nilay Ghosh Jan 3 at 12:55
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$\begingroup$ @NilayGhosh Thank you. Despite being a minority I'd rather call it the Kuiper cloud than a 'belt'. Or something inbetween. $\endgroup$ – Greenhorn Jan 3 at 13:31
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