Discovery [1] [2] [3] | |
---|---|
Discovered by | (first observed only) CFEPS |
Discovery site | Mauna Kea Obs. |
Discovery date | 3 September 2005 |
Designations | |
2005 RH52 | |
TNO
[4] ·
ESDO
[5] ETNO · distant [1] | |
Orbital characteristics [4] | |
Epoch 27 April 2019 ( JD 2458600.5) | |
Uncertainty parameter 3 | |
Observation arc | 12.30 yr (4,491 d) |
Aphelion | 270.41 AU |
Perihelion | 38.956 AU |
154.68 AU | |
Eccentricity | 0.7482 |
1924 yr (702,689 d) | |
2.9912 ° | |
0° 0m 1.8s / day | |
Inclination | 20.428° |
306.01° | |
32.366° | |
Neptune MOID | 10.2 AU [1] |
Physical characteristics | |
Mean diameter | 128
km (est.)
[5] 130 km (est.) [6] |
0.08 (assumed)
[6] 0.09 (assumed) [5] | |
7.7 [1] [4] | |
2005 RH52 is an extreme trans-Neptunian object from the extended scattered disc in the outermost region of the Solar System, approximately 130 kilometers (81 miles) in diameter. It was first observed on 3 September 2005, by astronomers with the Canada–France Ecliptic Plane Survey using the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope at the Mauna Kea Observatories in Hawaii, United States. [1] [2] [3]
The detached, extended scattered disc object (ESDO) is on a highly eccentric orbit and belongs to the extreme trans-Neptunian objects.
2005 RH52 belongs to a small group of detached objects with perihelion distances of 30 AU or more, and semi-major axes of 150 AU or more. [7] Such extreme trans-Neptunian objects (ETNOs) can not reach such orbits without some perturbing object, which lead to the speculation of Planet Nine.
It orbits the Sun at a distance of 39–270 AU once every 1923 years and 10 months (702,689 days; semi-major axis of 154.68 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.75 and an inclination of 20 ° with respect to the ecliptic. [4] The body's observation arc begins with its first official observation at Mauna Kea in September 2005. [1]
As of 2018, this minor planet has neither been numbered nor named by the Minor Planet Center. The official discoverer(s) will be defined when the object is numbered. [1]
According to the Johnston's archive and to American astronomer Michael Brown, 2005 RH52 measures 128 and 130 kilometers in diameter based on an assumed albedo of 0.09 and 0.08, respectively. [5] [6] Due to its small size, it is listed as "probably not" a dwarf planet (100–200 km) on Michael Brown's website, which uses a 5-class taxonomic system that ranges from "nearly certainly" to "possibly" for potential dwarf planet candidates. [6] As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown. [4] [8]