Remove ads
(65407) 2002 RP120 (provisional designation 2002 RP120) is a trans-Neptunian object and damocloid from the outer Solar System. Its orbit is retrograde and comet-like, and has a high eccentricity. It was discovered on 4 September 2002 by astronomers with the LONEOS survey at Anderson Mesa Station, Arizona, in the United States. The unusual object measures approximately 14.6 kilometers (9.1 miles) in diameter and is likely elongated in shape. It is a slow rotator and potentially a tumbler as well.[7] The object was probably ejected from the ecliptic by Neptune.[citation needed]
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | LONEOS |
| Discovery site | Anderson Mesa Stn. |
| Discovery date | 4 September 2002 |
| Designations | |
| (65407) 2002 RP120 | |
| 2002 RP120 | |
| TNO[2] · damocloid[3] unusual[4] · distant[1] | |
| Orbital characteristics[2] | |
| Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 2 | |
| Observation arc | 3.35 yr (1,225 d) |
| Aphelion | 105.39 AU |
| Perihelion | 2.4544 AU |
| 53.920 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.9545 |
| 395.95 yr (144,619 d) | |
| 15.061° | |
| 0° 0m 9s / day | |
| Inclination | 118.97° |
| 39.263° | |
| 357.79° | |
| TJupiter | −0.8340 |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 14.6±2.8 km[5] | |
| 200 h[6] | |
| 0.098±0.036[3][5] | |
| B–R = 1.37[3] | |
| 12.3[1][2] | |
Remove ads
2002 RP120 is a member of the damocloids,[3] with a retrograde orbit and a negative TJupiter of −0.8340. It is also a trans-Neptunian object, as its orbit has a semi-major axis larger than that of Neptune (30.1 AU).[2] The Minor Planet Center lists it as a critical object, centaur, and (other) unusual minor planet due to an orbital eccentricity of more than 0.5.[4]
It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.5–105 AU once every 396 years (semi-major axis of 53.92 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.95 and an inclination of 119° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken by Astrovirtel (I03) at ESO's La Silla Observatory in February 2001, or 19 months prior to its official discovery observation at Anderson Mesa.[1]
Remove ads
This minor planet was permanently numbered (65407) by the Minor Planet Center on 14 June 2003 (M.P.C. 48994).[8] As of 2018, it has not been named.[1]
The object has a B–R magnitude of 1.37,[3] typical for most dynamical groups in the outer Solar System.
Rotation period
In October 2010, a rotational lightcurve of 2002 RP120 was obtained from photometric observations by French amateur astronomer René Roy . Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 200 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.6 magnitude, indicative of an elongated, non-spherical shape (U=2).[6] With a rotation period above 100 hours, it is a typical slow rotator.
Diameter and albedo
According to the survey of minor-planet albedos of bodies in a comet-like orbit, carried out by Yanga Fernández in collaboration with David Jewitt and Scott Sheppard at the Institute for Astronomy, Hawaii, 2002 RP120 measures 14.6 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.098.[2][5] Johnston's archive gives a rounded figure of 15 kilometers.[3]
Remove ads
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
Remove ads