(55565) 2002 AW197

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(55565) 2002 AW197
55565-2002aw197 hst.jpg
Hubble Space Telescope image of 2002 AW197 taken in 2006
Discovery [1] [2]
Discovered by Palomar Obs. (team)
Discovery site Palomar Obs.
Discovery date10 January 2002
Designations
2002 AW197
TNO [3]  · cubewano [4]
p-DP [5]  · extended [6]
distant [1]
Orbital characteristics [3]
Epoch 31 May 2020 (JD 2459000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 3
Observation arc 21.23 yr (7,756 d)
Earliest precovery date29 December 1997
Aphelion 53.161 AU
Perihelion 40.922 AU
47.042 AU
Eccentricity 0.13009
322.65 yr (117,848 d)
294.532°
0° 0m 10.998s / day
Inclination 24.451°
297.606°
≈ 5 May 2078 [7]
±4 days
297.494°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
768±39 km [8]
734±116 km [9]
700±50  km [10] [11]
886 km [12]
8.87±0.01  h [13]
8.78±0.05 h [14]
8.86±0.01 h [15]
0.112+0.012
−0.011
[8]
IR [16] [17]  ·(moderately red)
B–V = 0.920±0.020 [18]
V–R = 0.560±0.020 [18]
V–I = 1.170±0.010 [17]
20.0 (opposition) [19] [20]
3.568±0.046(V) [21]
3.156±0.059(R) [22]
3.3 (assumed) [3]

    (55565) 2002 AW197 (provisional designation 2002 AW197) 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 700 kilometers (430 miles), it is approximately tied with 2002 MS4 and 2013 FY27 (to within measurement uncertainties) as the largest unnamed object in the Solar System. It was discovered at Palomar Observatory in 2002.

    Contents

    Its rotation period is 8.8 hours and it is a moderately red color. [16] Tancredi notes that photometric observations suggest that it is a spheroid with a high albedo and small albedo spots. [23] However, its low albedo suggests it does not have planetary geology, as it should if it were a dwarf planet.

    Description

    2002 AW197's orbit is outside that of Pluto's, with a higher inclination and different orientation 2002 AW197 orbit 2018.png
    2002 AW197's orbit is outside that of Pluto's, with a higher inclination and different orientation

    Discovery

    2002 AW197 was discovered on 10 January 2002, by astronomers at the Palomar Observatory in California. [1] Astronomers involved in the discovery were Michael Brown, Chad Trujillo, Eleanor Helin, Michael Hicks, Kenneth Lawrence and Steven H. Pravdo. [2] It is located near the Kuiper cliff.

    Orbit and classification

    2002 AW197 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. [3] The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken at Haleakala-NEAT/GEODSS ( 566 ) in December 1997, more than 4 years prior to its official discovery observation at Palomar. [1] At 45.4 AU from the Sun, [19] it continues to slowly approach the Sun until its perihelion passage at 41.1 AU in May 2078. [7]

    Physical characteristics

    2002 AW197 imaged by Spitzer on 13 April 2004 2002AW197-Spitzer.jpg
    2002 AW197 imaged by Spitzer on 13 April 2004

    Combined observations of thermal emissions by the Herschel Space Observatory and Spitzer Space Telescope give a diameter of 768+39
    −38
     km
    and a geometric albedo of 0.112+0.012
    −0.011
    . [8]

    Surface

    ESO analysis of spectra reveals a strong red slope and no presence of water ice [24] (in contrast to Quaoar, also red) suggesting organic material (see comparison of colours and typical composition inferred from spectra of the TNOs).

    See also

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    References

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