2005 RH52 is an extreme trans-Neptunian object from the extended scattered disc in the outermost region of the Solar System, approximately 130 kilometers (81 miles) in diameter. It was first observed on 3 September 2005, by astronomers with the Canada–France Ecliptic Plane Survey using the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope at the Mauna Kea Observatories in Hawaii, United States.[1][2][3]

2005 RH52
Discovery[1][2][3]
Discovered by(first observed only)
CFEPS
Discovery siteMauna Kea Obs.
Discovery date3 September 2005
Designations
2005 RH52
TNO[4] · ESDO[5]
ETNO · distant[1]
Orbital characteristics[4]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 3
Observation arc12.30 yr (4,491 d)
Aphelion270.41 AU
Perihelion38.956 AU
154.68 AU
Eccentricity0.7482
1924 yr (702,689 d)
2.9912°
0° 0m 1.8s / day
Inclination20.428°
306.01°
32.366°
Neptune MOID10.2 AU[1]
Physical characteristics
128 km (est.)[5]
130 km (est.)[6]
0.08 (assumed)[6]
0.09 (assumed)[5]
7.7[1][4]

The detached, extended scattered disc object (ESDO) is on a highly eccentric orbit and belongs to the extreme trans-Neptunian objects.

Orbit and classification

edit

2005 RH52 belongs to a small group of detached objects with perihelion distances of 30 AU or more, and semi-major axes of 150 AU or more.[7] Such extreme trans-Neptunian objects (ETNOs) can not reach such orbits without some perturbing object, which lead to the speculation of Planet Nine.

It orbits the Sun at a distance of 39–270 AU once every 1923 years and 10 months (702,689 days; semi-major axis of 154.68 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.75 and an inclination of 20° with respect to the ecliptic.[4] The body's observation arc begins with its first official observation at Mauna Kea in September 2005.[1]

Numbering and naming

edit

As of 2018, this minor planet has neither been numbered nor named by the Minor Planet Center. The official discoverer(s) will be defined when the object is numbered.[1]

Physical characteristics

edit

According to the Johnston's archive and to American astronomer Michael Brown, 2005 RH52 measures 128 and 130 kilometers in diameter based on an assumed albedo of 0.09 and 0.08, respectively.[5][6] Due to its small size, it is listed as "probably not" a dwarf planet (100–200 km) on Michael Brown's website, which uses a 5-class taxonomic system that ranges from "nearly certainly" to "possibly" for potential dwarf planet candidates.[6] As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[4][8]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f g "2005 RH52". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b "List Of Centaurs and Scattered-Disk Objects". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  3. ^ a b Gladman, B.; Kavelaars, J.; Allen, L.; Petit, J.-M.; Vanlaerhoven, C.; Jones, L.; et al. (27 July 2011). "Eleven New Tnos". Minor Planet Electronic Circ. 2011-O40 (2011–O40). Bibcode:2011MPEC....O...40G. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2005 RH52)" (2017-12-20 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d Brown, Michael E. "How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system?". California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Database Query: objects q>30, a>150". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  8. ^ "LCDB Data for (2005+RH52)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 25 October 2018.
edit