What is the Kuiper Belt?

The Kuiper Belt is a significant region of the solar system that is located beyond the orbit of Neptune, primarily populated with a variety of small, icy bodies. This vast expanse is notable for containing many of the solar system's small, distant objects, including dwarf planets such as Pluto, Haumea, and Makemake, as well as countless other trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs). The icy composition of these bodies reflects the conditions of the early solar system and plays a critical role in our understanding of planetary formation and the dynamics of celestial bodies in this outer region.

The characteristics of the Kuiper Belt distinguish it from other regions mentioned. For instance, the asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter and consists mainly of rocky bodies, not icy ones. The statement about a band of dust around the Sun does not accurately describe the Kuiper Belt's properties or location, and the collection of comets near Earth refers more specifically to the inner solar system where comets become visible, rather than the distant and icy Kuiper Belt region where they originate.