(65407) 2002 RP120

(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.

(65407) 2002 RP120
Discovery[1]
Discovered byLONEOS
Discovery siteAnderson Mesa Stn.
Discovery date4 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 arc3.35 yr (1,225 d)
Aphelion105.39 AU
Perihelion2.4544 AU
53.920 AU
Eccentricity0.9545
395.95 yr (144,619 d)
15.061°
0° 0m 9s / day
Inclination118.97°
39.263°
357.79°
TJupiter−0.8340
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
14.6±2.8 km[5]
200 h[6]
0.098±0.036[3][5]
B–R = 1.37[3]
12.3[1][2]

    Orbit and classification

    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]

    Numbering and naming

    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]

    Physical characteristics

    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]

    References
    1. "65407 (2002 RP120)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
    2. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 65407 (2002 RP120)" (2004-06-22 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
    3. Johnston, Wm. Robert (30 December 2017). "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
    4. "List Of Other Unusual Objects". Minor Planet Center. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
    5. Fernández, Yanga R.; Jewitt, David C.; Sheppard, Scott S. (July 2005). "Albedos of Asteroids in Comet-Like Orbits". The Astronomical Journal. 130 (1): 308–318. Bibcode:2005AJ....130..308F. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.507.2206. doi:10.1086/430802. S2CID 53642261.
    6. Behrend, Raoul. "Asteroids and comets rotation curves – (65407)". Geneva Observatory. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
    7. "LCDB Data for (65407)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 1 March 2018.
    8. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 20 November 2018.

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