2013 UH15

2013 UH15 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 29 October 2013, by astronomers at the Las Campanas Observatory in the southern Atacama Desert of Chile.[1][5] The detached extended scattered disc object (ESDO) is on a highly eccentric orbit and belongs to the extreme trans-Neptunian objects.

2013 UH15
Discovery[1]
Discovered by(first observed only)
Las Campanas Obs.
Discovery siteLas Campanas Obs.
Discovery date29 October 2013
Designations
2013 UH15
TNO[2] · ESDO[3]
distant[1] · ETNO
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 5
Observation arc1.96 yr (717 d)
Aphelion305.39 AU
Perihelion35.018 AU
170.20 AU
Eccentricity0.7943
2221 yr (811,042 d)
353.91°
0° 0m 1.44s / day
Inclination26.090°
176.55°
282.97°
Neptune MOID12.9 AU
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
128 km (est.)[3]
130 km (est.)[4]
0.08 (assumed)[4]
0.09 (assumed)[3]
7.7[1][2]

    Orbit and classification

    2013 UH15 orbits the Sun at a distance of 35.0–305 AU once every 2221 years (811,042 days; semi-major axis of 170.2 AU). Its orbit has an exceptionally high eccentricity of 0.79 and an inclination of 26° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] The body's observation arc begins with its official first observation at Las Campanas in October 2013.[1] It has a minimum orbital intersection distance with Neptune of 12.9 AU.[1]

    It 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.[6] These extreme trans-Neptunian objects (ETNOs) can not reach such orbits without some perturbing object, which lead to the speculation of Planet Nine.

    Numbering and naming

    As of 2018, this minor planet has neither been numbered nor named by the Minor Planet Center. The official discoverers will be defined when the object is numbered.[1]

    Physical characteristics

    According to the Johnston's archive and to American astronomer Michael Brown, 2013 UH15 measures 128 and 130 kilometers in diameter based on an assumed albedo of 0.09 and 0.08, respectively.[3][4] 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.[4] As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[2][7]

    See also

    References
    1. "2013 UH15". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
    2. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2013 UH15)" (2015-10-16 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
    3. "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
    4. Brown, Michael E. "How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system?". California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
    5. "List Of Centaurs and Scattered-Disk Objects". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
    6. "Database Query: objects q>30, a>150". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
    7. "LCDB Data for (2013+UH15)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 26 October 2018.

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