An extraordinary discovery in the cold and mysterious outer reaches of the solar system has sparked a new debate in the world of astronomy.

Astronomers have discovered evidence of an atmosphere on an icy body beyond Neptune that was previously thought to be limited to larger bodies like Pluto. The surprising discovery has changed many old ideas about the outer edges of the solar system.

According to research published in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy, this space object called (612533) 2002 XV93 is located in the Kuiper Belt and is classified as a trans-Neptunian object. With a diameter of about 500 kilometers, this body is much smaller than Pluto in volume, but the extremely thin atmosphere surrounding it has surprised scientists. It is estimated that this atmosphere may contain gases such as methane, nitrogen or carbon monoxide.

According to experts, the persistence of an atmosphere on such a small and extremely cold body is unexpected, because it was previously believed that such a feature was possible only in relatively large bodies. According to astronomer Koarimatsu, the discovery indicates that icy bodies in the outer solar system may be much more dynamic and complex than previously thought.

Scientists have proposed two possible causes for this atmosphere. One theory is that gases are being released from the body’s interior, possibly through glacial volcanism, while the other is that it is a temporary release of gases as a result of a space collision. If the atmosphere remains constant, this could be strong evidence of internal activity.

For this study, a special technique was used with the help of Japanese ground-based telescopes, in which the body was observed passing in front of a distant star. The atmosphere around it was estimated by changes in the star’s light.

This icy world is located about 5.5 billion kilometers from the sun and takes 247 years to complete one orbit. Experts believe that this body is a remnant of the early formation of the solar system, whose composition may include ice, rocks and organic materials.

This new discovery has once again revived the question of how many secrets are hidden in the distant corners of the universe that are much more complex than our current scientific understanding. The presence of an atmosphere on a silent icy world could actually be the beginning of a new chapter for astronomy.