(84922) 2003 VS2

Last updated

(84922) 2003 VS2
84922-2003vs2 hst.jpg
Hubble Space Telescope image of 2003 VS2 taken in 2005
Discovery [1]
Discovered by NEAT (644)
Discovery date14 November 2003 [2]
Designations
(84922) 2003 VS2
none
Plutino [3] [4]
Orbital characteristics [2] [3]
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD  2457400.5)
Uncertainty parameter 3
Observation arc 8830 days (24.18 yr)
Earliest precovery date17 September 1991
Aphelion 42.413  AU (6.3449  Tm)
Perihelion 36.456 AU (5.4537 Tm)
39.435 AU (5.8994 Tm)
Eccentricity 0.075539
247.64  yr (90451.3  d)
Average orbital speed
4.75 km/s
15.535°
0° 0m 14.328s / day
Inclination 14.777°
302.792°
114.317°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions(678±10) × (470±12) × (452±16) km [5]
Mean diameter
  • 524±7 km [5]
  • 548.3+29.5
    −44.6
     km
    [6]
  • 523.0+35.1
    −34.4
     km
    [7]
Mean density
1.4+1.0
−0.3
 g/cm3
[6]
7.4175285±0.00001  h [8]
7.41±0.02 h [9]
0.134±0.01 [5]
Temperature ≈44 K
19.7 [10]
4.11±0.38 [8]

(84922) 2003 VS2 is a trans-Neptunian object discovered by the Near Earth Asteroid Tracking program on 14 November 2003. [1] Like Pluto, it is in a 2:3 orbital resonance with Neptune [3] [4] and is thus a plutino. Analysis of light-curve suggests that it is not a dwarf planet. [11]

Contents

Orbit and rotation

Like Pluto, (84922) 2003 VS2 is locked in the 3:2 mean-motion resonance with Neptune, although its orbit is both less inclined and significantly less eccentric than Pluto's. [2]

(84922) 2003 VS2 has a significant light-curve amplitude of 0.21±0.01. The most likely value of the rotation period is 7.41±0.02 h. [9]

Physical characteristics

(84922) 2003 VS2 has a moderately red surface with a moderately red color indices B−V=0.93, V−R=0.59. [12] Its geometrical albedo is about 0.13. [6]

In 2007, its diameter was initially estimated by the Spitzer Space Telescope at 725±200 km. [13] However, in 2012, this was reduced to 523.0+35.1
−34.4
 km
after new Herschel Space Telescope observations. [7] In 2019, 2003 VS2 was found to be ellipsoidal in shape based on stellar occultations that occurred in 2013 and 2014; [6] the light curve derived from the occultations suggests that this plutino is not in hydrostatic equilibrium and hence not a dwarf planet. [14] The dimensions of 2003 VS2 are estimated at 627.6 km × 531 km × 494.6 km, with a volume-equivalent diameter 548.3+29.5
−44.6
 km
. [6] 2003 VS2 has no known satellite that can be used to directly determine its mass, but assuming a density of 1 g/cm3, typical of mid size TNO's, [15] gives a mass estimate of about 7.5×1019 kg.

2003 VS2 (apparent magnitude 19.8) as viewed with a 24" telescope 2003VS2-mag20.jpg
2003 VS2 (apparent magnitude 19.8) as viewed with a 24" telescope
Colours of the TNOs plus Phoebe, Pholus, Triton and Mars. Mars and Triton are not to scale. TheTransneptunians Color Distribution.svg
Colours of the TNOs plus Phoebe, Pholus, Triton and Mars. Mars and Triton are not to scale.

See also

Related Research Articles

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−0.016
, making it, with its absolute magnitude (H) of 4.8, equivalent to a single spherical body 600+140
−130
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in diameter.

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(84719) 2002 VR128, also written (84719) 2002 VR128, is a trans-Neptunian object (TNO). It was discovered in 2002 by Michael Brown and Chad Trujillo. The object is a plutino, an object in 2:3 orbital resonance with Neptune.

<span class="nowrap">(55565) 2002 AW<sub>197</sub></span> Classical Kuiper belt object

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<span class="nowrap">(84522) 2002 TC<sub>302</sub></span> Large trans-Neptunian object

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<span class="nowrap">(307261) 2002 MS<sub>4</sub></span> Classical Kuiper belt object

(307261) 2002 MS4 (provisional designation 2002 MS4) is a large trans-Neptunian object in the Kuiper belt, which is a region of icy planetesimals beyond Neptune. It was discovered on 18 June 2002 by Chad Trujillo and Michael Brown during their search for bright, Pluto-sized Kuiper belt objects at Palomar Observatory. To within measurement uncertainties, 2002 MS4, 2002 AW197, and 2013 FY27 have a diameter close to 800 km (500 mi), which makes them the largest unnamed objects in the Solar System. 2002 MS4 is large enough that astronomers consider it a possible dwarf planet.

<span class="nowrap">(208996) 2003 AZ<sub>84</sub></span> Plutino

(208996) 2003 AZ84 is a trans-Neptunian object with a possible moon located in the outer regions of the Solar System. It is approximately 940 kilometers across its longest axis, as it has an elongated shape. It belongs to the plutinos – a group of minor planets named after its largest member Pluto – as it orbits in a 2:3 resonance with Neptune in the Kuiper belt. It is the third-largest known plutino, after Pluto and Orcus. It was discovered on 13 January 2003, by American astronomers Chad Trujillo and Michael Brown during the NEAT survey using the Samuel Oschin telescope at Palomar Observatory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">174567 Varda</span> Trans-Neptunian object

174567 Varda (provisional designation 2003 MW12) is a binary trans-Neptunian planetoid of the resonant hot classical population of the Kuiper belt, located in the outermost region of the Solar System. Its moon, Ilmarë, was discovered in 2009.

(119951) 2002 KX<sub>14</sub>

(119951) 2002 KX14, also written as 2002 KX14, is a medium-sized trans-Neptunian object (TNO) residing within the Kuiper belt. It was discovered on 17 May 2002 by Michael E. Brown and Chad Trujillo.

<span class="nowrap">(469372) 2001 QF<sub>298</sub></span>

(469372) 2001 QF298, provisionally known as 2001 QF298, is a resonant trans-Neptunian object that resides in the Kuiper belt in the outermost region of the Solar System. It was discovered on August 19, 2001 by Marc W. Buie. 2001 QF298 is a plutino, meaning that it is locked in a 3:2 orbital resonance with Neptune, much like Pluto.

(120348) 2004 TY364, provisionally known as 2004 TY364, is a trans-Neptunian object. It is an inner classical Kuiper belt object in the definition by Gladman, Marsden, and Van Laerhoven (e<0.24). Its inclination of almost 25 degrees disqualifies it as such in Marc Buie's definition. It is also not listed as a scattered disc object by the Minor Planet Center. It was discovered by Michael E. Brown, Chad Trujillo and David L. Rabinowitz on October 3, 2004 at the Palomar Observatory.

<span class="nowrap">(455502) 2003 UZ<sub>413</sub></span>

(455502) 2003 UZ413, also written as 2003 UZ413, is a trans-Neptunian object (TNO) with an absolute magnitude of 4.38. It is in a 2:3 orbital resonance with Neptune, thus it is classified as a plutino. There are indications it may be dense enough to be a dwarf planet. It was given the minor planet number 455502 on 22 February 2016.

(126154) 2001 YH140, also written as (126154) 2001 YH140, is a resonant trans-Neptunian object discovered on 18 December 2001, by American astronomers Chad Trujillo and Michael Brown at the Palomar Observatory in California. It measures approximately 345 kilometers in diameter.

(55638) 2002 VE95, prov. designation: 2002 VE95, is a trans-Neptunian object from the outermost region of the Solar System. It was discovered on 14 November 2002, by astronomers with the Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking program at the Palomar Observatory in California, United States. This resonant trans-Neptunian object is a member of the plutino population, locked in a 2:3 resonance with Neptune. The object is likely of primordial origin with a heterogeneous surface and a notably reddish color (RR) attributed to the presence of methanol and tholins. It has a poorly defined rotation period of 6.8 hours and measures approximately 250 kilometers (160 miles) in diameter, too small to be a dwarf planet candidate. As of 2021, it has not yet been named.

<span class="nowrap">(612533) 2002 XV<sub>93</sub></span>

(612533) 2002 XV93, also written as 2002 XV93, is a trans-Neptunian object (TNO) with an absolute magnitude of 5.4. A 2:3 orbital resonance with Neptune makes it a plutino.

(144897) 2004 UX10 is a Kuiper-belt object. It has a diameter of about 360 kilometres (220 mi) and was discovered by Andrew Becker, Andrew Puckett and Jeremy Kubica on 20 October 2004 at Apache Point Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico. The object is classified as a cubewano. It is near a 2:3 resonance with Neptune.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ilmarë</span> Moon of 174567 Varda

Ilmarë, or Varda I, full designation 174567 Varda I Ilmarë, is the single known natural satellite of the Kuiper belt object 174567 Varda. It was discovered by Keith Noll et al. in 2009, at a separation of about 0.12 arcsec, using discovery images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope on 26 April 2009, and reported in 2011. At approximately 326 km in diameter (about 45% that of its primary), it is the fourth or fifth-largest known moon of a trans-Neptunian object, after Pluto I Charon, Eris I Dysnomia, Orcus I Vanth and very possibly Haumea I Hiʻiaka. Assuming that Ilmarë has the same albedo and density as Varda, Ilmarë would constitute approximately 8.4% of the system's mass, approximately 2.2×1019 kg.

References

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