2015 KH 162

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Asteroid
2015 KH 162
Properties of the orbit ( animation )
Epoch:  April 27, 2019 ( JD 2,458,600.5)
Orbit type SDO or
"Distant Object"
Major semi-axis 62.226  AU
eccentricity 0.33
Perihelion - aphelion 41.679 AU - 82.773 AU
Inclination of the orbit plane 28.8 °
Length of the ascending node 200.9 °
Argument of the periapsis 296.7 °
Time of passage of the perihelion December 20, 1930
Sidereal period 490 a 10.4 M
Physical Properties
Medium diameter approx. 587 km
Albedo 0.09-0.10
Absolute brightness 4.1 - 4.4 mag
history
Explorer Scott S. Sheppard
David J. Tholen
Chadwick A. Trujillo
Date of discovery May 18, 2015
Source: Unless otherwise stated, the data comes from JPL Small-Body Database Browser . The affiliation to an asteroid family is automatically determined from the AstDyS-2 database . Please also note the note on asteroid items.

2015 KH 162 is a large trans-Neptunian object , which is classified as SDO or more generally as a "distant object" in terms of railway dynamics . Because of its size, the asteroid is a dwarf planet candidate .

discovery

2015 KH 162 was discovered by an American team of astronomers , consisting of Scott Sheppard , David Tholen and Chad Trujillo , at the Mauna Kea Observatory ( Hawaii ) on images taken by the 8.2 m Subaru telescope on May 18, 2015. At the time of discovery, the asteroid was in the constellation Snake . The discovery was announced on February 23, 2016.

After its discovery, in 2015 KH 162 could be identified on photos taken with Pan-STARRS going back up to February 26, 2010, thus extending its observation period by five years in order to calculate its orbit more precisely. In September 2018, there were a total of 206 observations over a period of 9 years. The last observation so far was carried out in May 2018 as part of the Pan-STARRS program.

properties

Orbit

2015 KH 162 orbits the sun in 490.87 years in a strongly elliptical orbit between 41.68  AU and 82.77 AU from its center. The orbital eccentricity is 0.330, the orbit is 28.82 ° inclined to the ecliptic . The planetoid is currently 59.88 AU from the Sun and 60.11 AU from Earth . He passed through perihelion for the last time in 1930, so the next perihelion should take place in 2421. (As of February 1, 2019)

Marc Buie ( DES ) classifies it as an SDO ; the Minor Planet Center also manages it as an SDO and as a "Distant Object" .

size

A diameter of around 587 km is currently assumed, based on a reflectivity of 9% and an absolute brightness of 4.6  m ; However, this is fraught with some uncertainties, as the estimates range from 400 to 800 km due to the still unknown albedo. The apparent magnitude of 2015 KH 162 is 22.07  m .

Since it can be assumed that 2015 KH 162 is in hydrostatic equilibrium due to its size and therefore has to be largely round, it should meet the criteria for classification as a dwarf planet . Mike Brown assumes that 2015 KH 162 is likely a dwarf planet.

Provisions of the diameter for 2015 KH 162
year Dimensions km source
2018 671.0 Johnston
2018 561.0 Brown
The most precise determination is marked in bold .

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Marc W. Buie : Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for 15KH162 . SwRI (Space Science Department). Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  2. ↑ a b MPC : List Of Centaurs and Scattered-Disk Objects . IAU . Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  3. ↑ a b c 2015 KH162 at the IAU Minor Planet Center (English)
  4. ↑ MPC : MPEC 2016-D40: 2015 KH162 . IAU . February 23, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  5. ↑ 2015 KH162 in the Small-Body Database of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (English). Retrieved February 2, 2019. Template: JPL Small-Body Database Browser / Maintenance / Alt
  6. ↑ 2015 KH162 in the database of the "Asteroids - Dynamic Site" (AstDyS-2, English).
  7. ↑ a b Mike Brown : How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system? . CalTech . November 12, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  8. ^ Wm. R. Johnston: List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects . Johnston's Archives. October 7, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2019.