(307463) 2002 VU130 (provisional designation 2002 VU130) is a trans-Neptunian object, located in the circumstellar disc of the Kuiper belt in the outermost region of the Solar System. The resonant trans-Neptunian object belongs to the population of plutinos and measures approximately 253 kilometers (160 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 7 November 2002, by American astronomer Marc Buie at the Kitt Peak Observatory near Tucson, Arizona. The object has not been named yet.[1]

(307463) 2002 VU130
Discovery[1][2]
Discovered byM. W. Buie
Discovery siteKitt Peak Obs.
Discovery date7 November 2002
Designations
(307463) 2002 VU130
2002 VU130
TNO[3] · plutino[4][5]
Orbital characteristics[3]
Epoch 1 July 2021 (JD 2459396.5)
Uncertainty parameter 2[3] · 1[1]
Observation arc13.99 yr (5,110 d)
Aphelion47.106 AU
Perihelion30.929 AU
39.018 AU
Eccentricity0.2073
243.73 yr (89,021 d)
278.86°
0° 0m 14.4s / day
Inclination1.3761°
267.86°
281.56°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
253 km[5][6]
0.179[5][6]
5.47[6]
5.9[3]

Orbit and classification edit

2002 VU130 is a plutino, a population of objects in the Kuiper belt that stay in a 2:3 resonance with Neptune.[4][5] A large part of the inner Kuiper belt is formed by objects belonging to this population which is named after its largest member, Pluto. 2002 VU130 orbits the Sun at a distance of 30.9–47.1 AU once every 243 years and 9 months (89,021 days; semi-major axis of 39.02 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.21 and an inclination of 1° with respect to the ecliptic.[3] The body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation on 7 November 2002.[1] It is currently approaching the Sun at 39.428 AU,[7] with its perihelion-passage projected to occur in June 2076.[3]

Numbering and naming edit

This minor planet was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 10 December 2011 (M.P.C. 77418).[8] As of 2021, it has not been named.[1] If named, it will follow the already established scheme of naming these objects after mythological entities associated with the underworld.

Physical characteristics edit

Diameter and albedo edit

Observations with Herschel's PACS instrument were published in 2011. For 2002 VU130, the measurements gave a mean-diameter of 252.9+33.6
−31.3
 km
with an unusually high albedo of 0.179+0.202
−0.103
and an absolute magnitude of 5.47±0.83.[6] This result has been adopted in Johnston's Archive, giving a rounded diameter of 253 kilometers (160 miles),[5] while Mike Brown estimates as similar one of 260 km with an albedo of 0.18 and an absolute magnitude of 5.5.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e "307463 (2002 VU130)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  2. ^ "M.P.E.C. 2002-X10 (containing 2002 VU130)". Minor Planet Electronic Circular. 3 December 2002. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 307463 (2002 VU130)" (2016-11-03 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for 307463". Southwest Research Institute. Retrieved 24 July 2021.The Deep Ecliptic Survey Object Classifications
  5. ^ a b c d e Johnston, Wm. Robert (18 August 2020). "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d Mommert, M.; Harris, A. W.; Kiss, C.; Pál, A.; Santos-Sanz, P.; Stansberry, J.; et al. (May 2012). "TNOs are cool: A survey of the trans-Neptunian region. V. Physical characterization of 18 Plutinos using Herschel-PACS observations". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 541: A93. arXiv:1202.3657. Bibcode:2012A&A...541A..93M. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201118562. ISSN 0004-6361.
  7. ^ "Asteroid (307463) 2002 VU130 – Ephemerides". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  8. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  9. ^ Brown, Michael E. "How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system?". California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 24 July 2021.

External links edit