(148975) 2001 XA255
(148975) 2001 XA255, provisional designation: 2001 XA255, is a dark minor planet in the outer Solar System, classified as centaur, approximately 38 kilometers (24 miles) in diameter.[1] It was discovered on 9 December 2001, by David C. Jewitt, Scott S. Sheppard, and Jan Kleyna observing from the Mauna Kea Observatory.[4] The object is currently trapped in a 1:1 mean-motion resonance with Neptune following a path of the horseshoe type.[5]
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | David C. Jewitt, Scott S. Sheppard and Jan Kleyna |
| Discovery date | 9 December 2001 |
| Designations | |
| (148975) 2001 XA255 | |
| Centaur | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 2 | |
| Observation arc | 3812 days (10.44 yr) |
| Aphelion | 48.731 AU (7.2901 Tm) |
| Perihelion | 9.3364 AU (1.39671 Tm) |
| 29.034 AU (4.3434 Tm) | |
| Eccentricity | 0.67843 |
| 156.44 yr (57141.1 d) | |
| 12.809° | |
| 0° 0m 22.681s / day | |
| Inclination | 12.628° |
| 105.89° | |
| 90.452° | |
| Jupiter MOID | 4.12722 AU (617.423 Gm) |
| Physical characteristics | |
Mean diameter | 12.5 km[2] 38 km[1][3] |
| 0.041[1][3] | |
| 11.1[1] | |
Orbit and classification
2001 XA255 follows a very eccentric orbit (0.68) with perihelion just inside the orbit of Saturn, aphelion in the trans-Neptunian belt and a semi-major axis of 28.9 AU. The orbital inclination of this object is moderate at 12.6º.[1]
Resonance with Neptune
2001 XA255 was identified as trapped in a 1:1 mean-motion resonance with Neptune and 1:2 with Uranus by T. Gallardo in 2006.[6] The object is dynamically unstable and it entered the region of the giant planets relatively recently, perhaps 50,000 years ago, from the scattered disk. It follows a short-lived horseshoe orbit around Neptune.[5]
Physical characteristics
The object has an estimated diameter of 12.5 km and it was classified as an inactive centaur by David Jewitt.[2] Observations by the NEOWISE mission gave a larger diameter of 37.7 kilometers and an albedo of 0.041.[3] It has an absolute magnitude is 11.1.[1]
References
- "148975 (2001 XA255)". JPL Small-Body Database. NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- Jewitt, David C. (2009). "The Active Centaurs". The Astronomical Journal. 137 (5): 4296–4312. arXiv:0902.4687. Bibcode:2009AJ....137.4296J. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/137/5/4296. S2CID 18877930.
- Johnston, Wm. Robert (18 August 2020). "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- Jewitt, David C.; Sheppard, S. S.; Kleyna, J.; Marsden, B. G. "2001 XA255". Minor Planet Electronic Circular.
- de la Fuente Marcos, C.; de la Fuente Marcos, R. (2012). "Four temporary Neptune co-orbitals: (148975) 2001 XA255, (310071) 2010 KR59, (316179) 2010 EN65, and 2012 GX17". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 547: L2. arXiv:1210.3466. Bibcode:2012A&A...547L...2D. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201220377. S2CID 118622987.
- ADS link Gallardo, T. (2006) Atlas of the mean-motion resonances in the Solar System
External links
- 2001 XA255, Jewitt, D. C., Sheppard, S. S., Kleyna, J., & Marsden, B. G. 2002, Minor Planet Electronic Circular, 2002-A85.
- The Active Centaurs, Jewitt, D. C. 2009, Astronomical Journal, Volume 137, Number 5, pp. 4296–4312.
- (148975) 2001 XA255 data at MPC
- Atlas of the mean motion resonances in the Solar System Gallardo, T. 2006, Icarus, Volume 184, Issue 1, pp. 29–38.
- Four temporary Neptune co-orbitals: (148975) 2001 XA255, (310071) 2010 KR59, (316179) 2010 EN65, and 2012 GX17 de la Fuente Marcos, C., & de la Fuente Marcos, R. 2012, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 547, id.L2, 7 pp.
- IAU list of centaurs and scattered-disk objects
- IAU list of trans-neptunian objects
- Another list of TNOs
- (148975) 2001 XA255 at the JPL Small-Body Database