(131697) 2001 XH255

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(131697) 2001 XH255
Discovery [1]
Discovered by
  • Kleyna, J.
  • Sheppard, S. S.
  • Jewitt, D. C.
Discovery date11 December 2001
Designations
(131697) 2001 XH255
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD  2457400.5)
Uncertainty parameter 3
Observation arc 4110 days (11.25 yr)
Aphelion 37.907  AU (5.6708  Tm) (Q)
Perihelion 32.339 AU (4.8378 Tm) (q)
35.123 AU (5.2543 Tm) (a)
Eccentricity 0.079253 (e)
208.16  yr (76030.5  d)
318.51° (M)
0° 0m 17.046s / day (n)
Inclination 2.8512° (i)
323.17° (Ω)
217.87° (ω)
Earth  MOID 31.3433 AU (4.68889 Tm)
Jupiter  MOID 26.8986 AU (4.02397 Tm)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 100 km (assumed) [4]
0.09 (assumed)
23.6 [5]
8.2 [1]

    (131697) 2001 XH255, provisionally known as 2001 XH255, is a trans-Neptunian object (TNO) that has a 4:5 resonance with Neptune. [2]

    Contents

    It will come to perihelion in 2041. [1]

    Assuming a generic TNO albedo of 0.09, it is about 100 km in diameter. [4]

    Resonance

    According to the Deep Ecliptic Survey and Minor Planet Center, 2001 XH255 has a 4:5 resonance with Neptune. [2] [3] It comes as close as 32.2 AU from the Sun and has a fairly low orbital eccentricity of 0.07 with an inclination of only 2.86 degrees. [1]

    The Neptune 4:5 resonance keeps it more than 7 AU from Neptune over a 14000-year period. [6]

    It has been observed 21 times over 5 oppositions and has an orbit quality code of 3. [1]

    The libration of 2001 XH255. Jupiter in red, Saturn in yellow, and Uranus in blue. Neptune is the white dot at 5 o'clock. 2001XH255AnimwithJup.gif
    The libration of 2001 XH255. Jupiter in red, Saturn in yellow, and Uranus in blue. Neptune is the white dot at 5 o'clock.

    Potential for exploration

    A NASA study in 2019 that confirmed the viability of using small radioisotope or nuclear fission power systems combined with xenon electric propulsion for deep space exploration, used 2001 XH255 as a representative kuiper belt object as the mission's destination to orbit. [7]

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 131697 (2001 XH255)" (last observation: 2006-01-29). Retrieved 7 April 2016.
    2. 1 2 3 Marc W. Buie. "Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for 131697" (2006-01-29 using 19 observations). SwRI (Space Science Department). Retrieved 1 February 2009.
    3. 1 2 "MPEC 2009-A63 :Distant Minor Planets (2009 JAN. 29.0 TT)". Minor Planet Center. 13 January 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
    4. 1 2 Wm. Robert Johnston (22 August 2008). "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
    5. ↑ "AstDys (131697) 2001XH255 Ephemerides". Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Italy. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2009.
    6. ↑ "MPEC 2006-H30 : 2001 XT254, 2001 XH255". Minor Planet Center. 22 April 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
    7. ↑ Oleson, S.; et al. (19 August 2019). "A Kuiper Belt Object Orbiter Enabled By 10 kW Kilopower Electric Propulsion" (PDF). NASA NTRS. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 March 2020.
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