(612243) 2001 QR322

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(612243) 2001 QR322
Orbita asteroida 2001 QR322.png
Discovery [1]
Discovered by M. W. Buie (DES)
Discovery site Cerro Tololo Obs.
Discovery date21 August 2001
Designations
(612243) 2001 QR322
2001 QR322
Neptune trojan  · L4 [2]
TNO [3]  · distant [1]
Orbital characteristics [3]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 3
Observation arc 12.26 yr (4,479 days)
Aphelion 30.968 AU
Perihelion 29.262 AU
30.115 AU
Eccentricity 0.0283
165.27 yr (60,363 days)
86.551°
0° 0m 21.6s / day
Inclination 1.3250°
151.75°
151.11°
Physical characteristics
132  km [4]
0.058 [4]
22.5 [5]
8.12 [3] [2]

    (612243) 2001 QR322, prov. designation : 2001 QR322, is a minor planet and the first Neptune trojan discovered, by American astronomer Marc Buie of the Deep Ecliptic Survey at Cerro Tololo Observatory in Chile on 21 August 2001. [1] [6] It orbits ahead of Neptune at its L4 Lagrangian point and measures approximately 132 kilometers (82 miles) in diameter. [2] [4]

    Contents

    Other Neptune trojans have been discovered since. A study by American astronomers Scott Sheppard and Chad Trujillo from the Carnegie Institution suggests that Neptune could possibly have twenty times more trojans than Jupiter. [7]

    Orbit

    2001 QR322 orbits the Sun with a semi-major axis of 30.115  AU at a distance of 29.3–31.0 AU once every 165 years and 3 months (60,363 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.03 and an inclination of 1° with respect to the ecliptic. [3]

    Dynamical stability

    Early studies of the dynamical stability of 2001 QR322, which used a small number of test particles spread over the uncertainties of just a few orbital parameters that were derived from a limited observation arc, suggested that 2001 QR322 is on a remarkably stable orbit, because most test particles remained on trojan orbits for 5 Gyr. Thereafter, the stability of Neptune trojans was simply assumed. [8]

    A more recent study, which used a very large number of test particles spread over the 3σ uncertainties in all six orbital parameters derived from a longer observational arc, has indicated that 2001 QR322 is far less dynamically stable than previously thought. The test particles were lost exponentially with a half life of 553 Myr. Further observations can determine whether 2001 QR322's orbit is actually within the dynamically stable or within the unstable part. [8]

    The stability is strongly dependent on semi-major axis, with a≥30.30 AU being far less stable, but only very weakly dependent on the other orbital parameters. This is because those with larger semi-major axes have larger libration amplitudes, with amplitudes ~70° and above being destabilized by secondary resonances between the trojan motion and the dynamics of at least Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Secular resonances were found not to contribute to the dynamical stability of 2001 QR322. [8]

    Numbering and naming

    This minor planet was numbered and its discoverer determined by the Minor Planet Center on 28 March 2022 ( M.P.C. 139893). [1] [9] If named, it will follow the naming scheme already established with 385571 Otrera, which is to name these objects after figures related to the Amazons, an all-female warrior tribe that fought in the Trojan War on the side of the Trojans against the Greek. [10]

    Physical characteristics

    The discoverers estimate that the body has a mean diameter of 132 kilometers with a low albedo of 0.058 at an absolute magnitude of 8.12. [4] It has a visual magnitude of 22.5. [5]

    Related Research Articles

    385571 Otrera, provisional designation 2004 UP10, is a Neptune trojan leading Neptune's orbit in the outer Solar System. It was discovered by American astronomers Scott Sheppard and Chad Trujillo at Las Campanas Observatory on 16 October 2004. It measures approximately 100 kilometers in diameter and was the second such body to be discovered after 2001 QR322.

    2005 TN53 is an inclined Neptune trojan leading Neptune's orbit in the outer Solar System, approximately 80 kilometers in diameter. It was first observed on 7 October 2005, by American astronomers Scott Sheppard and Chad Trujillo at Las Campanas Observatory in the Atacama desert of Chile. It was the third such body to be discovered, and the first with a significant orbital inclination, which showed that the population as a whole is very dynamically excited.

    385695 Clete, provisional designation 2005 TO74, is a Neptune trojan, co-orbital with the ice giant Neptune, approximately 97 kilometers (60 miles) in diameter. It was named after Clete, one of the Amazons from Greek mythology. The minor planet was discovered on 8 October 2005, by American astronomers Scott Sheppard and Chad Trujillo at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. 23 known Neptune trojans have already been discovered.

    (119070) 2001 KP77 (provisional designation 2001 KP77) is a resonant trans-Neptunian object in the Kuiper belt, a circumstellar disc located in the outermost region of the Solar System. It was discovered on 23 May 2001, by American astronomer Marc Buie at the Cerro Tololo Observatory in Chile. The object is locked in a 4:7 orbital resonance with Neptune. It has a red surface color and measures approximately 176 kilometers (110 miles) in diameter. As of 2021, it has not been named.

    3596 Meriones is a large Jupiter trojan from the Greek camp, approximately 80 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 14 November 1985, by Danish astronomers Poul Jensen and Karl Augustesen at the Brorfelde Observatory near Holbæk, Denmark. The assumed C-type asteroid belongs to the 50 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 12.96 hours. It was named after the Cretan leader Meriones from Greek mythology.

    (20161) 1996 TR66 is a trans-Neptunian object orbiting beyond Pluto in the Kuiper belt of the outermost Solar System, approximately 139 kilometers (86 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 8 October 1996, by astronomers David Jewitt, Chad Trujillo, Jane Luu, and Jun Chen at the Mauna Kea Observatory, Hawaii, in the United States. It was the first discovery of a twotino.

    (118378) 1999 HT11 (provisional designation 1999 HT11) is a trans-Neptunian object from the outermost region of the Solar System, locked in a 4:7 orbital resonance with Neptune. It was discovered on 17 April 1999, by astronomers at the Kitt Peak Observatory, Arizona, in the United States. The very red object measures approximately 134 kilometers (83 miles) in diameter. As of 2021, it has not been named.

    (91205) 1998 US43 (provisional designation 1998 US43) is a resonant trans-Neptunian object of the plutino group, located in the Kuiper belt in the outermost region of the Solar System. The rather bluish body measures approximately 111 kilometers (69 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 22 October 1998, by American astronomer Marc Buie at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in the United States. It is probably not a dwarf planet candidate.

    17314 Aisakos (; provisional designation 1977 RS9) is a Jupiter trojan from the Trojan camp, approximately 36 kilometers (22 miles) in diameter. It was discovered at the Palomar Observatory during the first Palomar–Leiden Trojan survey in 1971. The dark Jovian asteroid has a rotation period of 9.7 hours. It was named after the Trojan prince Aesacus from Greek mythology.

    5652 Amphimachus is a Jupiter trojan from the Greek camp, approximately 53 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 24 April 1992, by American astronomer couple Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California. The dark Jovian asteroid belongs to the 80 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 8.4 hours. It was named from Greek mythology after Amphimachus, who was slain by Hector.

    (527604) 2007 VL305, provisional designation 2007 VL305, is an inclined Neptune trojan that shares Neptune's orbit in the L4 Lagrangian point. It was discovered on 4 November 2007, by astronomers Andrew Becker, Andrew Puckett and Jeremy Kubica at the Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico, United States, although images from 2005 have also been recovered. It measures approximately 160 kilometers in diameter and was the sixth Neptune trojan to be discovered. As of 2016, it is 34.1 AU from Neptune.

    <span class="nowrap">(44594) 1999 OX<sub>3</sub></span>

    (44594) 1999 OX3 is an eccentric trans-Neptunian object with a centaur-like orbit from the outer Solar System, approximately 150 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 21 July 1999, by astronomers John Kavelaars, Brett Gladman, Matthew Holman and Jean-Marc Petit at Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, United States.

    <span class="nowrap">(528381) 2008 ST<sub>291</sub></span>

    (528381) 2008 ST291, provisional designation 2008 ST291, is a 1:6 resonant trans-Neptunian object located in the outermost region of the Solar System that takes almost a thousand years to complete an orbit around the Sun. It was discovered on 24 September 2008 by American astronomers Megan Schwamb, Michael Brown and David Rabinowitz at the Palomar Observatory in California, with no known earlier precovery images.

    2008 LC18 is a Neptune trojan first observed on 7 June 2008 by American astronomers Scott Sheppard and Chad Trujillo using the Subaru Telescope at Mauna Kea Observatories on Hawaii, United States. It was the first object found in Neptune's trailing L5 Lagrangian point and measures approximately 100 kilometers in diameter.

    (184212) 2004 PB112 (provisional designation 2004 PB112) is a trans-Neptunian object from the scattered disc, approximately 154 kilometers (96 miles) in diameter, and in a rare high-order orbital resonance ratio (4:27) with Neptune. It was discovered on 13 August 2004, by American astronomer Marc Buie at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile.

    (589683) 2010 RF43 (provisional designation 2010 RF43) is a large trans-Neptunian object orbiting in the scattered disc in the outermost regions of the Solar System. The object was discovered on 9 September 2010, by American astronomers David Rabinowitz, Megan Schwamb and Suzanne Tourtellotte at ESO's La Silla Observatory in northern Chile.

    34746 Thoon (provisional designation 2001 QE91) is a dark Jupiter trojan from the Trojan camp, approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 22 August 2001, by astronomers with the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research at Lincoln Lab's ETS in Socorro, New Mexico. The possibly elongated Jovian asteroid is one of the 70 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 19.6 hours. It was named after the Trojan warrior Thoön from Greek mythology.

    (21601) 1998 XO89 (provisional designation 1998 XO89) is a Jupiter trojan from the Greek camp, approximately 55 kilometers (34 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 15 December 1998, by astronomers with the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research at the Lincoln Lab's ETS near Socorro, New Mexico. The dark Jovian asteroid has a rotation period of 12.7 hours and belongs to the 80 largest Jupiter trojans. It has not been named since its numbering in February 2001.

    (22149) 2000 WD49 (provisional designation 2000 WD49) is a Jupiter trojan from the Greek camp, approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 21 November 2000, by astronomers with the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research at the Lincoln Lab's ETS near Socorro, New Mexico, in the United States. The dark Jovian asteroid belongs to the largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 7.84 hours. It has not been named since its numbering in February 2001.

    (32496) 2000 WX182 (provisional designation 2000 WX182) is a Jupiter trojan from the Trojan camp, approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 18 November 2000, by astronomers with the LINEAR program at the Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico, in the United States. The dark Jovian asteroid belongs the 100 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 23.3 hours. It has not been named since its numbering in November 2001.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 "(612243) 2001 QR322". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
    2. 1 2 3 "List of Neptune Trojans". Minor Planet Center. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
    3. 1 2 3 4 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2001 QR322)" (2013-11-25 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
    4. 1 2 3 4 Johnston, Wm. Robert (2 January 2022). "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive.
    5. 1 2 Lakdawalla, Emily (13 August 2010). "2008 LC15, the first Trojan asteroid discovered in Neptune's L5 point". The Planetary Society. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
    6. ↑ Marc W. Buie. "Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for 01QR322" (2008-07-21 using 26 of 26 observations). SwRI (Space Science Department). Retrieved 3 September 2009.
    7. ↑ "Neptune May Have Thousands of Escorts". Space.com. 30 January 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
    8. 1 2 3 Horner, J.; Lykawka, P. S. (June 2010). "2001 QR322: a dynamically unstable Neptune Trojan?". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 405 (1): 49–56. arXiv: 1002.4699 . Bibcode:2010MNRAS.405...49H. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.16441.x . S2CID   119241123.
    9. ↑ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
    10. ↑ "Rules and Guidelines for naming non-cometary small Solar-System bodies – v1.0" (PDF). Working Group Small Body Nomenclature (PDF). 20 December 2021.
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