(119979) 2002 WC19

Last updated
(119979) 2002 WC19
2002 WC19.jpg
2002 WC19 and its satellite imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2006
Discovery
Discovered by Palomar Observatory
Discovery date16 November 2002
Designations
(119979) 2002 WC19
Twotino [1] [2]
binary
Orbital characteristics [3]
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5)
Uncertainty parameter 3
Observation arc 3978 days (10.89 yr)
Aphelion 60.732  AU (9.0854  Tm)
Perihelion 35.289 AU (5.2792 Tm)
48.010 AU (7.1822 Tm)
Eccentricity 0.26498
332.67 yr (121,507 d)
316.02°
0° 0m 10.666s / day
Inclination 9.1746°
109.7547°
≈ 5 November 2056 [4]
±3 days
44.356°
Known satellites 1 (81 km) [5]
Earth  MOID 34.3056 AU (5.13204 Tm)
Jupiter  MOID 29.9229 AU (4.47640 Tm)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 338±44 km [5]
Mass (8.13±1.0)×1019 kg (prograde) or
(7.263±0.87)×1019 kg (retrograde) [6]
Mean density
1.97±1.00 g/cm3 for the average of prograde and retrograde masses [5]
(2.08±1.06 g/cm3 if prograde,
1.86±0.94 g/cm3 if retrograde)
0.05 [5]
4.9

    (119979) 2002 WC19 (provisional designation 2002 WC19) is a twotino, that is, a trans-Neptunian object in a 1:2 orbital resonance with Neptune. It was discovered on November 16, 2002 at the Palomar Observatory. Its estimated diameter predicts a density comparable to that of Pluto, which would be unusual as it is much smaller than the expected size at which a Kuiper belt object would normally becomes solid. However, the error bar for the density is 50%, consistent with the density of water ice to within one sigma.

    Contents

    Knowing how many twotinos there are may reveal whether Neptune took roughly 1 million or 10 million years to migrate about 7 AU from its birth location. [7]

    Satellite

    Satellite
    Discovery
    Discovered by K. S. Noll, W. M. Grundy, S. D. Kern, H. F. Levison, D. C. Stephens
    Discovery site Hubble Space Telescope
    Discovery date5 November 2006
    Orbital characteristics [5]
    4092±94 km
    Eccentricity 0.21±0.05
    8.403±0.001 d
    Inclination 24.0°±0.7°
    Satellite of (119979) 2002 WC19
    Physical characteristics
    81 km (assuming similar albedo) [5]
    primary + 2.5

      On February 27, 2007, a natural satellite was reported to be orbiting 2002 WC19. It is estimated to be 4092±94 km from the primary, with an orbital period of 8.403±0.001 days, an eccentricity of 0.21±0.05 and an inclination of 24.0°±0.7°. Assuming similar albedos, it is a quarter the diameter of its primary, or around 81 kilometres (50 mi) in diameter. [5]

      References

      1. ↑ Marc W. Buie (2004-12-14). "Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for 119979". (using 61 of 65 observations) SwRI (Space Science Department). Retrieved 2009-03-04.
      2. ↑ "MPEC 2009-C70 :Distant Minor Planets (2009 February 28.0 TT)". Minor Planet Center. 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
      3. ↑ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 119979 (2002 WC19)" (2012-11-06 last obs; arc: 10.89 years). Retrieved 7 April 2016.
      4. ↑ JPL Horizons Observer Location: @sun (Perihelion occurs when deldot changes from negative to positive. Uncertainty in time of perihelion is 3-sigma.)
      5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Wm. Robert Johnston (27 May 2019). "(119979) 2002 WC19". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
      6. ↑ Grundy, W.M.; Noll, K.S.; Roe, H.G.; Buie, M.W.; Porter, S.B.; Parker, A.H.; Nesvorný, D.; Levison, H.F.; Benecchi, S.D.; Stephens, D.C.; Trujillo, C.A. (December 2019). "Mutual orbit orientations of transneptunian binaries". Icarus. 334: 62–78. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2019.03.035.
      7. ↑ Ron Cowen (2009-01-04). "On the Fringe". ScienceNews. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
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