S/2007(148780)1, is a retrograde natural satellite of 148780 Altjira, which is a binary classical Kuiper belt object (cubewano).
S/2007(148780)1, is large compared to the primary, estimated diameter 246 km vs 340 km.
S/2007(148780)1 is the 25th largest moon in the Solar System currently known.
Discovery
S/2007(148780)1 was reported in March 2007.
Naming
Upon discovery, the moon was issued a provisional designation, S/2007 (148780)1.
Stats
Diameter (estimated): 246 km (200 - 360 km)
Semi-major axis: 9904 ± 56 km
Orbital Period: 139.56 days
Rotation Period: ?
How big is it?
Altjira and S/2007(148780)1 are so far away in the outer solar system that we don't know for sure how large they are. Because all we see is a dot of light, which is sunlight reflected off the surface of the TNO. But we don't know if the object is bright because it is large or if it is bright because it is highly reflective or both.
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
(28978) Ixion - 24th Largest TNO? 4th Largest Plutino ?
28978 Ixion is a trans-Neptunian object in the Kuiper belt. It is considered to be a dwarf planet by some astronomers, but the IAU has not formally designated it as such.
Ixion is possibly the 24th largest TNO and 4th largest Plutino currently known.
Discovery
Ixion was discovered on May 22, 2001 by Deep Ecliptic Survey (DES) at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.
Other than Pluto, Ixion was the first TNO discovered that was originally estimated to be larger than asteroid Ceres. Even in 2002, a year after its discovery, Ixion was still believed to be more than 1000 km in diameter. More recent estimates suggest that Ixion has a high albedo and is smaller than Ceres. Observations of Ixion by Spitzer Space Telescope in the far-infrared part of the spectrum revealed that its size is about 650 km.
Naming
Ixion the TNO is named after Ixion, a figure from Greek mythology. The name was suggested by E. K. Elliot.
In Greek mythology, Ixion was king of the Lapiths, the most ancient tribe of Thessaly. By killing his father-in-law, Ixion was reckoned the first man guilty of kin-slaying in Greek mythology. That alone would warrant him a terrible punishment.
However, Zeus had pity on Ixion and brought him to Olympus and introduced him at the table of the gods. Instead of being grateful, Ixion grew lustful for Hera, Zeus's wife, a further violation of guest-host relations.
Zeus thwarted this by creating the cloud Nephele, which resembled Hera and by whom Ixion fathered the Centaurs. For his crimes Ixion was bound to a wheel that turns forever in the underworld.
Stats
Estimated Diameter: 650 km (430 – 910 km)
Aphelion: 49.27 AU
Perihelion: 29.73 AU
Semi-major axis: 39.42 AU
Orbital Period: 247.53 years
Rotation period: ? hrs
Date discovered: 2001.5.22
Satellite: 0
Classification: TNO, KBO - Plutino
Orbit
Ixion is a plutino, locked in a 2:3 resonance with Neptune, making two revolutions around the Sun, while Neptune makes three.
Ixion and Pluto follow similar but differently oriented orbits: Ixion’s perihelion is below the ecliptic whereas Pluto's is above it. Uncharacteristically for bodies locked in resonance with Neptune (such as Orcus), Ixion approaches Pluto with less than 20 degrees of angular separation.
Ixion is currently crossing the ecliptic heading below, and will reach its perihelion in 2070. Pluto has passed its perihelion (1989) and is descending toward the ecliptic.
Ixion does demonstrate some regular changes in brightness, which are thought to be caused by its rotation. As of 2010, however, the rotation period of Ixion remains undetermined.
Physical characteristics
Ixion is moderately red in visible light and has a surface made of a mixture of tholin and water ice.
Ixion has a higher albedo (>0.15) than the mid-sized red cubewanos. There may be an absorption feature at the wavelength of 0.8 μm in its spectrum, which is commonly attributed to the alteration of surface materials by water.
Both visible and infrared spectroscopic results indicate that Ixion's surface is a mixture of water ice, dark carbon and tholin, which is a heteropolymer formed by irradiation of clathrates of water and organic compounds.
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) has checked Ixion for cometary activity, but did not detect a coma. Ixion is currently about 41 AU from the Sun, and it is possible that Ixion could develop a coma or temporary atmosphere when it is closer to perihelion.
How big is it?
Ixion is so far away in the outer solar system that we don't know for sure how large it is. Because all we see is a dot of light, which is sunlight reflected off the surface of the TNO. But we don't know if the object is bright because it is large or if it is bright because it is highly reflective or both.
Ixion is possibly the 24th largest TNO and 4th largest Plutino currently known.
Discovery
Ixion was discovered on May 22, 2001 by Deep Ecliptic Survey (DES) at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.
Other than Pluto, Ixion was the first TNO discovered that was originally estimated to be larger than asteroid Ceres. Even in 2002, a year after its discovery, Ixion was still believed to be more than 1000 km in diameter. More recent estimates suggest that Ixion has a high albedo and is smaller than Ceres. Observations of Ixion by Spitzer Space Telescope in the far-infrared part of the spectrum revealed that its size is about 650 km.
Naming
Ixion the TNO is named after Ixion, a figure from Greek mythology. The name was suggested by E. K. Elliot.
In Greek mythology, Ixion was king of the Lapiths, the most ancient tribe of Thessaly. By killing his father-in-law, Ixion was reckoned the first man guilty of kin-slaying in Greek mythology. That alone would warrant him a terrible punishment.
However, Zeus had pity on Ixion and brought him to Olympus and introduced him at the table of the gods. Instead of being grateful, Ixion grew lustful for Hera, Zeus's wife, a further violation of guest-host relations.
Zeus thwarted this by creating the cloud Nephele, which resembled Hera and by whom Ixion fathered the Centaurs. For his crimes Ixion was bound to a wheel that turns forever in the underworld.
Stats
Estimated Diameter: 650 km (430 – 910 km)
Aphelion: 49.27 AU
Perihelion: 29.73 AU
Semi-major axis: 39.42 AU
Orbital Period: 247.53 years
Rotation period: ? hrs
Date discovered: 2001.5.22
Satellite: 0
Classification: TNO, KBO - Plutino
Orbit
Ixion is a plutino, locked in a 2:3 resonance with Neptune, making two revolutions around the Sun, while Neptune makes three.
Ixion and Pluto follow similar but differently oriented orbits: Ixion’s perihelion is below the ecliptic whereas Pluto's is above it. Uncharacteristically for bodies locked in resonance with Neptune (such as Orcus), Ixion approaches Pluto with less than 20 degrees of angular separation.
Ixion is currently crossing the ecliptic heading below, and will reach its perihelion in 2070. Pluto has passed its perihelion (1989) and is descending toward the ecliptic.
Ixion does demonstrate some regular changes in brightness, which are thought to be caused by its rotation. As of 2010, however, the rotation period of Ixion remains undetermined.
Physical characteristics
Ixion is moderately red in visible light and has a surface made of a mixture of tholin and water ice.
Ixion has a higher albedo (>0.15) than the mid-sized red cubewanos. There may be an absorption feature at the wavelength of 0.8 μm in its spectrum, which is commonly attributed to the alteration of surface materials by water.
Both visible and infrared spectroscopic results indicate that Ixion's surface is a mixture of water ice, dark carbon and tholin, which is a heteropolymer formed by irradiation of clathrates of water and organic compounds.
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) has checked Ixion for cometary activity, but did not detect a coma. Ixion is currently about 41 AU from the Sun, and it is possible that Ixion could develop a coma or temporary atmosphere when it is closer to perihelion.
How big is it?
Ixion is so far away in the outer solar system that we don't know for sure how large it is. Because all we see is a dot of light, which is sunlight reflected off the surface of the TNO. But we don't know if the object is bright because it is large or if it is bright because it is highly reflective or both.
Sunday, 8 April 2012
2010 KZ39 - 23th Largest TNO? 10th Largest Cubewano ?
2010 KZ39 is a large trans-Neptunian object. 2010 KZ39 is possibly the 23th largest TNO and 10th largest Cubewano currently known.
Discovery
2010 KZ39 was discovered by Andrzej Udalski, Scott S. Sheppard, M. Szymanski and Chad Trujillo on May 21, 2010 at Las Campanas Observatory, located in the southern Atacama Desert of Chile.
2010 KZ39 has been observed 19 times over two oppositions.
Stats
Estimated Diameter: 661 km (440 – 980 km)
Aphelion: 52.5 AU
Perihelion: 39.11 AU
Semi-major axis: 45.75 AU
Orbital Period: 309.44 years
Rotation period: ?
Date discovered: 2010.5.21
Satellite: ?
Classification: TNO, KBO - Cubewano
Orbit
2010 KZ39 is currently 46.3 AU from the Sun. Using the best-fit values for its orbit it is expected to come to perihelion in 2085.
Physical Characteristics
Very little is known about 2010 KZ39.
How big is it?
2010 KZ39 is so far away in the outer solar system that we don't know for sure how large it is. Because all we see is a dot of light, which is sunlight reflected off the surface of the TNO. But we don't know if the object is bright because it is large or if it is bright because it is highly reflective or both.
Dwarf planet candidate?
Assuming a generic trans-Neptunian albedo of 0.09, it would be about 735 km in diameter. But since its albedo is unknown and it has a preliminary absolute magnitude of 3.9, it could easily be somewhere between 440 (albedo: 0.25) and 980 km (albedo: 0.05) in diameter.
Mike Brown's automatically updated website lists it as a highly likely dwarf planet.
Discovery
2010 KZ39 was discovered by Andrzej Udalski, Scott S. Sheppard, M. Szymanski and Chad Trujillo on May 21, 2010 at Las Campanas Observatory, located in the southern Atacama Desert of Chile.
2010 KZ39 has been observed 19 times over two oppositions.
Stats
Estimated Diameter: 661 km (440 – 980 km)
Aphelion: 52.5 AU
Perihelion: 39.11 AU
Semi-major axis: 45.75 AU
Orbital Period: 309.44 years
Rotation period: ?
Date discovered: 2010.5.21
Satellite: ?
Classification: TNO, KBO - Cubewano
Orbit
2010 KZ39 is currently 46.3 AU from the Sun. Using the best-fit values for its orbit it is expected to come to perihelion in 2085.
Physical Characteristics
Very little is known about 2010 KZ39.
How big is it?
2010 KZ39 is so far away in the outer solar system that we don't know for sure how large it is. Because all we see is a dot of light, which is sunlight reflected off the surface of the TNO. But we don't know if the object is bright because it is large or if it is bright because it is highly reflective or both.
Dwarf planet candidate?
Assuming a generic trans-Neptunian albedo of 0.09, it would be about 735 km in diameter. But since its albedo is unknown and it has a preliminary absolute magnitude of 3.9, it could easily be somewhere between 440 (albedo: 0.25) and 980 km (albedo: 0.05) in diameter.
Mike Brown's automatically updated website lists it as a highly likely dwarf planet.
(145452) 2005 RN43 - 22th Largest TNO? 9th Largest Cubewano ?
2005 RN43 is a large trans-Neptunian object. 2005 RN43 is possibly the 22th largest TNO and 9th largest Cubewano currently known.
Discovery
2005 RN43 was discovered by Andrew C. Becker, Andrew W. Puckett and Jeremy M. Kubica on September 10, 2005 at Apache Point Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico.
2005 RN43 has been observed 119 times over 13 oppositions with precovery images back to 1954.
Stats
Estimated Diameter: 661 km
Aphelion: 42.55 AU
Perihelion: 40.55 AU
Semi-major axis: 41.61 AU
Orbital Period: 268.45 years
Rotation period: 5.62 hours
Date discovered: 2005.9.10
Satellite: 0
Classification: TNO, KBO - Cubewano
Classification
The Minor Planet Center (MPC) classifies it as a cubewano. But since 2005 RN43 has an inclination of 19.3°, and it is unknown how it acquired this moderate inclination, the Deep Ecliptic Survey (DES) classifies it as scattered-extended.
Physical Characteristics
Very little is known about 2005 RN43.
How big is it?
2005 RN43 is so far away in the outer solar system that we don't know for sure how large it is. Because all we see is a dot of light, which is sunlight reflected off the surface of the TNO. But we don't know if the object is bright because it is large or if it is bright because it is highly reflective or both.
Dwarf planet candidate?
2005 RN43 is very likely a dwarf planet. Mike Brown's automatically updated website lists it as a highly likely dwarf planet, but the diameter of the object has never been measured.
Discovery
2005 RN43 was discovered by Andrew C. Becker, Andrew W. Puckett and Jeremy M. Kubica on September 10, 2005 at Apache Point Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico.
2005 RN43 has been observed 119 times over 13 oppositions with precovery images back to 1954.
Stats
Estimated Diameter: 661 km
Aphelion: 42.55 AU
Perihelion: 40.55 AU
Semi-major axis: 41.61 AU
Orbital Period: 268.45 years
Rotation period: 5.62 hours
Date discovered: 2005.9.10
Satellite: 0
Classification: TNO, KBO - Cubewano
Classification
The Minor Planet Center (MPC) classifies it as a cubewano. But since 2005 RN43 has an inclination of 19.3°, and it is unknown how it acquired this moderate inclination, the Deep Ecliptic Survey (DES) classifies it as scattered-extended.
Physical Characteristics
Very little is known about 2005 RN43.
How big is it?
2005 RN43 is so far away in the outer solar system that we don't know for sure how large it is. Because all we see is a dot of light, which is sunlight reflected off the surface of the TNO. But we don't know if the object is bright because it is large or if it is bright because it is highly reflective or both.
Dwarf planet candidate?
2005 RN43 is very likely a dwarf planet. Mike Brown's automatically updated website lists it as a highly likely dwarf planet, but the diameter of the object has never been measured.
Friday, 6 April 2012
(90568) 2004 GV9 - 21th Largest TNO? 8th Largest Cubewano ?
2004 GV9 is a large trans-Neptunian object. 2004 GV9 is possibly the 21th largest TNO and 8th largest Cubewano currently known.
Discovery
2004 GV9 was discovered on April 13, 2004, by the Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking (NEAT) at Palomar.
2004 GV9 has been observed 47 times with precovery images back to 1954.
Stats
Estimated Diameter: 677 km (677 ± 70 km)
Aphelion: 45.74 AU
Perihelion: 38.7 AU
Semi-major axis: 41.81 AU
Orbital Period: 270.37 years
Rotation period: 5.86 hours
Date discovered: 2004.4.13
Satellite: 0
Classification: TNO, KBO - Cubewano
Physical Characteristics
Very little is known about 2004 GV9.
How big is it?
2004 GV9 is so far away in the outer solar system that we don't know for sure how large it is. Because all we see is a dot of light, which is sunlight reflected off the surface of the TNO. But we don't know if the object is bright because it is large or if it is bright because it is highly reflective or both.
Dwarf planet candidate?
2004 GV9 is very likely a dwarf planet. The Spitzer Space Telescope has estimated it to have a diameter of 677 ± 70 km. Light-curve-amplitude analysis shows only small deviations, suggesting that 2004 GV9 could be a spheroid with small albedo spots and hence a dwarf planet.
Discovery
2004 GV9 was discovered on April 13, 2004, by the Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking (NEAT) at Palomar.
2004 GV9 has been observed 47 times with precovery images back to 1954.
Stats
Estimated Diameter: 677 km (677 ± 70 km)
Aphelion: 45.74 AU
Perihelion: 38.7 AU
Semi-major axis: 41.81 AU
Orbital Period: 270.37 years
Rotation period: 5.86 hours
Date discovered: 2004.4.13
Satellite: 0
Classification: TNO, KBO - Cubewano
Physical Characteristics
Very little is known about 2004 GV9.
How big is it?
2004 GV9 is so far away in the outer solar system that we don't know for sure how large it is. Because all we see is a dot of light, which is sunlight reflected off the surface of the TNO. But we don't know if the object is bright because it is large or if it is bright because it is highly reflective or both.
Dwarf planet candidate?
2004 GV9 is very likely a dwarf planet. The Spitzer Space Telescope has estimated it to have a diameter of 677 ± 70 km. Light-curve-amplitude analysis shows only small deviations, suggesting that 2004 GV9 could be a spheroid with small albedo spots and hence a dwarf planet.
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
2010 EK139 - 20th Largest TNO?
2010 EK139 is a large, 2:7 resonant trans-Neptunian object.
Discovery
2010 EK139 was discovered on March 13, 2010 by astronomers from the OGLE team led by Andrzej Udalski from Warsaw University.
There are precovery images dating back to 2002.
Stats
Estimated Diameter: 677 km (462 – 1033 km)
Aphelion: 106.25 AU
Perihelion: 32.49 AU
Semi-major axis: 68.91 AU
Orbital Period: 572 years
Rotation period: ? hrs
Date discovered: 2010.3.13
Satellite: 0
Classification: TNO, 2:7 resonance
Orbit
2010 EK139 will come to perihelion around 2038, and is currently 39.1 AU from the Sun.
2010 EK139 has been observed 122 times over 5 oppositions and has an orbit quality of 2 [JPL ranks orbital quality from 0 to 9 (0 being best)].
A ten million year integration of the orbit shows that 2010 EK139 may be in a 7:2 resonance with Neptune.
How big is it?
2010 EK139 is so far away in the outer solar system that we don't know for sure how large it is. Because all we see is a dot of light, which is sunlight reflected off the surface of the TNO. But we don't know if the object is bright because it is large or if it is bright because it is highly reflective or both.
Dwarf-planet candidate
Assuming a generic trans-Neptunian albedo of 0.09, but since the true albedo is unknown and it has an absolute magnitude of 3.8, 2010 EK139 could easily be from about 462 to 1033 km in diameter.
Mike Brown lists 2010 EK139 as highly likely dwarf planet.
Discovery
2010 EK139 was discovered on March 13, 2010 by astronomers from the OGLE team led by Andrzej Udalski from Warsaw University.
There are precovery images dating back to 2002.
Stats
Estimated Diameter: 677 km (462 – 1033 km)
Aphelion: 106.25 AU
Perihelion: 32.49 AU
Semi-major axis: 68.91 AU
Orbital Period: 572 years
Rotation period: ? hrs
Date discovered: 2010.3.13
Satellite: 0
Classification: TNO, 2:7 resonance
Orbit
2010 EK139 will come to perihelion around 2038, and is currently 39.1 AU from the Sun.
2010 EK139 has been observed 122 times over 5 oppositions and has an orbit quality of 2 [JPL ranks orbital quality from 0 to 9 (0 being best)].
A ten million year integration of the orbit shows that 2010 EK139 may be in a 7:2 resonance with Neptune.
How big is it?
2010 EK139 is so far away in the outer solar system that we don't know for sure how large it is. Because all we see is a dot of light, which is sunlight reflected off the surface of the TNO. But we don't know if the object is bright because it is large or if it is bright because it is highly reflective or both.
Dwarf-planet candidate
Assuming a generic trans-Neptunian albedo of 0.09, but since the true albedo is unknown and it has an absolute magnitude of 3.8, 2010 EK139 could easily be from about 462 to 1033 km in diameter.
Mike Brown lists 2010 EK139 as highly likely dwarf planet.
Sunday, 1 April 2012
2006 QH181 - 19th Largest TNO? 5th Largest SDO ?
2006 QH181 is a large trans-Neptunian object. 2006 QH181 is possibly the 19th largest TNO and 5th largest SDO currently known.
Discovery
2006 QH181 was discovered on August 21, 2006. The discover was not known.
Stats
Estimated Diameter: 677 km (460 - 1030 km)
Aphelion: 97.02 AU
Perihelion: 38.24 AU
Semi-major axis: 67.71 AU
Orbital Period: 557.16 years
Rotation period: ?
Date discovered: 2006.8.21
Classification: TNO, SDO, 1:5 resonance?
Orbit
2006 QH181 came to perihelion around 1859. 2006 QH181 is currently 82.7 AU from the Sun. The only dwarf-planet-type bodies currently further from the Sun are Eris (96 AU), Sedna (87 AU) and 2007 OR10 (86 AU). Being so far from the Sun, it only has an apparent magnitude of 23.
2006 QH181 has been observed 10 times over only 2 oppositions and thus currently has a poorly known orbit. JPL ranks orbital quality from 0 to 9 (0 being best), and 2006 QH181 is currently listed with a poor orbital quality of 8.
2006 QH181 could be part of the scattered disc. 2006 QH181 may be a detached object since a perihelion of 38.24 AU may place it outside of the direct influence of Neptune, or it could have a 5:1 resonance with Neptune. Further observations of the orbit will be required.
How big is it?
2006 QH181 is so far away in the outer solar system that we don't know for sure how large it is. Because all we see is a dot of light, which is sunlight reflected off the surface of the TNO. But we don't know if the object is bright because it is large or if it is bright because it is highly reflective or both.
Dwarf-planet candidate
Mike Brown lists 2006 QH181 as highly likely dwarf planet.
Discovery
2006 QH181 was discovered on August 21, 2006. The discover was not known.
Stats
Estimated Diameter: 677 km (460 - 1030 km)
Aphelion: 97.02 AU
Perihelion: 38.24 AU
Semi-major axis: 67.71 AU
Orbital Period: 557.16 years
Rotation period: ?
Date discovered: 2006.8.21
Classification: TNO, SDO, 1:5 resonance?
Orbit
2006 QH181 came to perihelion around 1859. 2006 QH181 is currently 82.7 AU from the Sun. The only dwarf-planet-type bodies currently further from the Sun are Eris (96 AU), Sedna (87 AU) and 2007 OR10 (86 AU). Being so far from the Sun, it only has an apparent magnitude of 23.
2006 QH181 has been observed 10 times over only 2 oppositions and thus currently has a poorly known orbit. JPL ranks orbital quality from 0 to 9 (0 being best), and 2006 QH181 is currently listed with a poor orbital quality of 8.
2006 QH181 could be part of the scattered disc. 2006 QH181 may be a detached object since a perihelion of 38.24 AU may place it outside of the direct influence of Neptune, or it could have a 5:1 resonance with Neptune. Further observations of the orbit will be required.
How big is it?
2006 QH181 is so far away in the outer solar system that we don't know for sure how large it is. Because all we see is a dot of light, which is sunlight reflected off the surface of the TNO. But we don't know if the object is bright because it is large or if it is bright because it is highly reflective or both.
Dwarf-planet candidate
Mike Brown lists 2006 QH181 as highly likely dwarf planet.
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