2011 KW₄₈, temporarily designated VNH0004, is a trans-Neptunian object from the inner classical part of the Kuiper belt, located in the outermost region of the Solar System. It measures approximately 77 kilometers (48 mi) in diameter.

The object was first observed on 29 May 2011, during the New Horizons KBO Search ( 266) conducted by astronomers using the Subaru Telescope at the Mauna Kea Observatory on Hawaii, United States. ^[3] It was later observed by the New Horizons space probe from afar in January 2015. ^{[4] [5]}

Orbit and classification

2011 KW₄₈ orbits the Sun at a distance of 32.4–42.7  AU once every 229 years and 10 months (83,950 days; semi-major axis of 37.5 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.14 and an inclination of 3.6 ° with respect to the ecliptic. ^[1]

This object was observed 12 times by the Mauna Kea (8) and Las Campanas (4) observatories over a period of about 33.8 days between 29 May and 2 July 2011. Because of this short period of observation, its current orbit is extremely uncertain. ^{[1] [3]}

New Horizons

Between 4–15 January 2015, ^[4] the New Horizons spacecraft actively observed this object – then temporarily designated VNH0004 – at a distance of about 0.5 AU (75 million km; 46 million mi). ^[5] While this was too far to resolve surface features or perform spectroscopic analyses of its composition, the spacecraft was able to search for possible satellites and observe its phase curve. ^[5]

Physical characteristics

Based on an absolute magnitude of 8.8, ^[1] and an assumed albedo of 0.09, the Johnston's archive estimates a mean-diameter of approximately 77 kilometers (48 mi). ^[2] As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of 2011 KW₄₈ has been obtained from photometric observations. The object's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown. ^{[1] [6]}

Numbering and naming

As of 2018, this minor planet has not been numbered or named. ^[3]

See also

• List of New Horizons topics

References

External links

• Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for VNH0004, Southwest Research Institute, 25 October 2014
• List of Transneptunian Objects, Minor Planet Center
• Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form ( info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
• 2011 KW48 at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters