Kuiper belt objects

The region of the solar system immediately beyond Neptune's orbit is densel y populated with small bodies. This region, known as the Kuiper Belt, consi sts of objects that may predate Neptune, the orbits of which provide a foss il record of processes operative in the young solar system. The Kuiper Belt contains some of the Solar System's most primitive, least thermally proces sed matter. It is probably the source of the short-period comets and Centau rs, and may also supply collisionally generated interplanetary dust. I disc uss the properties of the Kuiper Belt and provide an overview of the outsta nding scientific issues.