2020 VN40

Last updated
2020 VN40
Discovery
Discovery site Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) on Maunakea
Discovery dateAugust 2020
Designations
2020 VN40
Orbital characteristics
Epoch 5 May 2025
(JD 2460800.5)
Uncertainty parameter 2
Observation arc 6.36 yr
Earliest precovery date2017-09-22
Aphelion 241.7 AU (barycentric) [1]
250.93 (heliocentric)
Perihelion 38.26 AU [2]
139.95±0.05 AU (barycentric) [3] [1]
144.61 AU (heliocentric)
Eccentricity 0.73521
1655 yr (barycentric) [1]
1740 yr (heliocentric)
355.75°
Inclination 33.374°
197.25°
December 2045 [2]
262.67°
Neptune  MOID 17.79 AU
Physical characteristics
≈ 90 km (assuming albedo of 0.09)
8.56±0.23

    2020 VN40 is a resonant trans-Neptunian object on a highly inclined and eccentric orbit in the scattered disc region of the Solar System. It was originally discovered in 2020 and first reported in 2025. It orbits in a 1:10 orbital resonance with Neptune, where it completes exactly one orbit for every ten orbits by Neptune. [3] [4] It orbits the Sun at an average distance of 139.95±0.05  AU , [3] and takes 1,655 years (604,400 d) to orbit the Sun. [1] The orbital resonance should be stable for tens of millions of years. [3]

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 "JPL Horizons Barycentric solution for 2020 VN40". JPL Horizons On-Line Ephemeris System . Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2025-07-17. Solution using the Solar System Barycenter. Ephemeris Type: Elements and Center: @0)
    2. 1 2 "Perihelion in December 2045". JPL Horizons. Retrieved 18 July 2025. (when rdot = 0)
    3. 1 2 3 4 Pike, Rosemary E.; Murray-Clay, Ruth; Volk, Kathryn; Alexandersen, Mike; Comte, Mark; Lawler, Samantha M.; Chen, Ying-Tung; Hermosillo Ruiz, Arcelia; Semenchuck, Cameron; Collyer, Cameron; Kavelaars, J. J.; Peltier, Lowell (2025). "L i DO: Discovery of a 10:1 Resonator with a Novel Libration State". The Planetary Science Journal. 6 (7): 156. Bibcode:2025PSJ.....6..156P. doi: 10.3847/PSJ/addd22 .
    4. ↑ Buckley, C. (July 2025). "Rare distant object 2020 VN40 found in perfect sync with Neptune". Phys.org . Retrieved 16 July 2025.
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