(79983) 1999 DF9 (provisional designation 1999 DF9) is a trans-Neptunian object of the Kuiper belt, classified as a non-resonant cubewano, that measures approximately 270 kilometers in diameter.

(79983) 1999 DF9
Discovery[1]
Discovered byJ. X. Luu
C. Trujillo
D. C. Jewitt
Discovery siteKitt Peak National Obs.
Discovery date20 February 1999
Designations
(79983) 1999 DF9
1999 DF9
TNO[1] · cubewano[2][3]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 2
Observation arc17.06 yr (6,231 days)
Aphelion53.567 AU
Perihelion39.830 AU
46.698 AU
Eccentricity0.1471
319.12 yr (116,560 days)
19.489°
0° 0m 11.16s / day
Inclination9.8105°
334.84°
178.63°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions265 km (calculated)[4]
306 km[3]
6.65 h[5]
0.10 (assumed)[4]
B–V = 0.920±0.060[6]
V–R = 0.710±0.050[6]
V–I = 1.360±0.060[6]
5.797±0.110 (R)[7] · 6.0[1][4]

Discovery

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It was discovered on 20 February 1999, by American and British astronomers Jane Luu, Chad Trujillo and David C. Jewitt at the U.S. Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.[8] As no precoveries were taken, the minor planet's observation arc begins with its discovery observation in 1999.[8]

Classification and orbit

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The minor planet is a classical Kuiper belt object or "cubewano", which are not in an orbital resonance with Neptune and do not cross the giant planet's orbit. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 39.8–53.6 AU once every 319 years and 1 month (116,560 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.15 and an inclination of 10° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] This makes it a relatively eccentric body for a classical Kuiper belt object, which typically have low-eccentricities of 0.10 or less.

Physical characteristics

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In February 2001, a rotational lightcurve was published for this minor planet from photometric observations by Portuguese astronomer Pedro Lacerda and the discovering astronomer Jane Luu. Lightcurve analysis gave a relatively short rotation period of 6.65 hours with a brightness variation of 0.40 magnitude (U=2).[5]

The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a low albedo of 0.10 and calculates a mean-diameter of 265 kilometers, based on an absolute magnitude of 6.0,[4] while the Johnston's archive give a diameter of 306 kilometers for an albedo of 0.09.[3] Due to its small size, it is unlikely to be classified as a dwarf planet.

Numbering and naming

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This minor planet was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 4 May 2004.[9] As of 2018, it has not been named.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 79983 (1999 DF9)" (13 March 2016 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  2. ^ Marc W. Buie. "Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for 79983". SwRI (Space Science Department). Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Robert Johnston (7 October 2018). "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d "LCDB Data for (79983)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  5. ^ a b Lacerda, Pedro; Luu, Jane (April 2006). "Analysis of the Rotational Properties of Kuiper Belt Objects". The Astronomical Journal. 131 (4): 2314–2326. arXiv:astro-ph/0601257. Bibcode:2006AJ....131.2314L. doi:10.1086/501047. S2CID 14950702.
  6. ^ a b c Hainaut, O. R.; Boehnhardt, H.; Protopapa, S. (October 2012). "Colours of minor bodies in the outer solar system. II. A statistical analysis revisited". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 546: 20. arXiv:1209.1896. Bibcode:2012A&A...546A.115H. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201219566. S2CID 54776793.
  7. ^ Peixinho, N.; Delsanti, A.; Guilbert-Lepoutre, A.; Gafeira, R.; Lacerda, P. (October 2012). "The bimodal colors of Centaurs and small Kuiper belt objects". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 546: 12. arXiv:1206.3153. Bibcode:2012A&A...546A..86P. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201219057. S2CID 55876118.
  8. ^ a b c "79983 (1999 DF9)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  9. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
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