(55565) 2002 AW197 explained

Minorplanet:yes
Background:
  1. C2E0FF
Discoverer:Palomar Obs.
Discovered:10 January 2002
Epoch:31 May 2020 (JD 2459000.5)
Uncertainty:3
Observation Arc:21.23 yr (7,756 d)
Earliest Precovery Date:29 December 1997
Perihelion:40.922 AU
Time Periastron:≈ 5 May 2078[1]
±4 days
Semimajor:47.042 AU
Eccentricity:0.13009
Period:322.65 yr (117,848 d)
Mean Motion: / day
Inclination:24.451°
Asc Node:297.606°
Arg Peri:297.494°
Mean Diameter:


km
Rotation:

Spectral Type:
B–V
V–R
V–I =
Magnitude:20.0
Abs Magnitude:

3.3

(provisional designation ) is a classical, non-resonant trans-Neptunian object from the Kuiper belt in the outermost region of the Solar System, also known as a cubewano. With a likely diameter of at least 600km (400miles), it is approximately tied with and (to within measurement uncertainties) as the largest unnamed object in the Solar System. It was discovered at Palomar Observatory in 2002.

Its rotation period is 8.8 hours and it is a moderately red color. Tancredi notes that photometric observations suggest that it is a spheroid with a high albedo and small albedo spots.[2] However, its low albedo suggests it does not have planetary geology, as it should if it were a dwarf planet.

Description

Discovery

was discovered on 10 January 2002, by astronomers at the Palomar Observatory in California. Astronomers involved in the discovery were Michael Brown, Chad Trujillo, Eleanor Helin, Michael Hicks, Kenneth Lawrence and Steven H. Pravdo. It is located near the Kuiper cliff.

Orbit and classification

orbits the Sun at a distance of 40.9–53.2 AU once every 322.6 years (over 117,800 days; semi-major axis of 47 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.13 and an inclination of 24° with respect to the ecliptic. The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken at Haleakala-NEAT/GEODSS in December 1997, more than 4 years prior to its official discovery observation at Palomar. At 45.4 AU from the Sun, it continues to slowly approach the Sun until its perihelion passage at 41.1 AU in May 2078.

Physical characteristics

Combined observations of thermal emissions by the Herschel Space Observatory and Spitzer Space Telescope give a diameter of and a geometric albedo of .

Surface

ESO analysis of spectra reveals a strong red slope and no presence of water ice[3] (in contrast to Quaoar, also red) suggesting organic material (see comparison of colours and typical composition inferred from spectra of the TNOs).

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi?find_body=1&body_group=sb&sstr=2002AW197 JPL Horizons
  2. Tancredi, G., & Favre, S. (2008) Which are the dwarfs in the Solar System?. Depto. Astronomía, Fac. Ciencias, Montevideo, Uruguay; Observatorio Astronómico Los Molinos, MEC, Uruguay. Retrieved 10-08-2011
  3. Candidate Members and Age Estimate of the Family of Kuiper Belt Object . D. Ragozzine . M. E. Brown . The Astronomical Journal . 134 . 6 . 2160–2167 . 2007 . 10.1086/522334 . 2007AJ....134.2160R . 0709.0328. 8387493 .