(78799) 2002 XW93

(78799) 2002 XW93
Discovery [1][2]
Discovered by Palomar team
Discovery site Palomar Obs.
Discovery date 10 December 2002
Designations
MPC designation (78799) 2002 XW93
2002 XW93
TNO
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 3
Observation arc 18.76 yr (6,852 days)
Aphelion 46.780 AU
Perihelion 28.193 AU
37.487 AU
Eccentricity 0.2479
229.52 yr (83,833 days)
141.33°
0° 0m 15.48s / day
Inclination 14.382°
46.926°
247.23°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 584 km[3]
565 km[4]
5.5[1]

    (78799) 2002 XW93 is an unnamed minor planet in the outer Solar System, classified as a trans-Neptunian object, approximately 550–600 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by and at the U.S Palomar Observatory, California, on 10 December 2002. According to American astronomer Michael Brown, the minor planet is a likely dwarf planet.[3]

    The minor planet orbits the Sun at a distance of 28.3–46.8 AU once every 229 years and 6 months (83,833 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.25 and an inclination of 14° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] The first precovery was taken at Palomar's Digitized Sky Survey in 1989, extending the asteroid's observation arc by 13 years prior to its discovery.[5]

    As of 2016, after a total of 29 observations, its orbital uncertainty parameter is at 3. Its last observation was made by the Hubble Space Telescope in September 2008.[5] On 10 August 1926, it most recently reached perihelion, when it was nearest to the Sun.[2][5] It is a near 5:7 resonant trans-Neptunian object.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 78799 (2002 XW93)" (2008-09-20 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
    2. 1 2 Marsden, Brian G. (2003-12-24). "MPEC 2003-Y55 : 2002 XW93". IAU Minor Planet Center. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
    3. 1 2 "How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system?". Retrieved 2015-01-02.
    4. ↑ "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
    5. 1 2 3 "78799 (2002 XW93)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 26 May 2016.

    External links

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