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Why is it called the Kuiper Belt?
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The Kuiper Belt is named after Gerard Kuiper, who discovered it. Kuiper discovered the Kuiper Belt in 1951, and named it the Kuiper Belt in honor of his mentor, Gerard Kuiper. The Kuiper Belt is a region of the solar system beyond the orbit of Neptune, and it is believed to be made up of icy objects that formed in the outer solar system. The Kuiper Belt is home to the dwarf planet Pluto, and it also contains the dwarf planet Eris.