(508338) 2015 SO20

(508338) 2015 SO20
Discovery[1][2][3]
Discovered byM. E. Schwamb
Discovery siteLa Silla Obs.
Discovery date8 October 2010
Designations
(508338) 2015 SO20
2015 SO20 · 2010 TF182
TNO[1] · E-SDO[4]
distant[2] · detached
extreme
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 2
Observation arc6.96 yr (2,543 days)
Aphelion290.09 AU
Perihelion33.164 AU
161.63 AU
Eccentricity0.7948
2054.81 yr (750,519 d)
0.0032°
0° 0m 1.8s / day
Inclination23.451°
33.619°
354.80°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions221 km (calculated)[5]
222 km (calculated)[4]
0.08 (assumed)[5]
0.09 (assumed)[4]
6.5[1] · 6.7[5]

(508338) 2015 SO20 is an extreme trans-Neptunian object and extended scattered disc object from the outermost region of the Solar System, approximately 220 kilometers (140 miles) in diameter.

Description

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This minor planet was first observed as 2010 TF182 on 8 October 2010, by American astronomer Megan Schwamb at ESO's La Silla Observatory in northern Chile.[2] It has also been observed as 2015 SO20 during the Calar Alto TNO Survey (Z79) at the Calar Alto Observatory, Spain, on 20 September 2015.[3]

It orbits the Sun at a distance of 33.2–290.1 AU once every 2054 years and 9 months (semi-major axis of 161 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.79 and an inclination of 23° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

Extended scattered disc

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It is one a small number of detached objects with perihelion distances of 30 AU or more, and semi-major axes of 150 AU or more.[6] Such objects can not reach such orbits without some perturbing object, which lead to the speculation of planet nine.

Physical characteristics

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Based on an absolute magnitude of 6.5 and an assumed albedo of 0.09, the Johnston's Archive calculated a mean-diameter of 222 kilometers.[4] Michael Brown estimates an albedo of 0.08 with a diameter of 221 kilometers using an absolute magnitude of 6.7. He also considers it a dwarf-planet candidate with a low probability ("possible").[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 508338 (2015 SO20)" (2017-09-24 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "(508338) 2015 SO20". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  3. ^ a b "List Of Centaurs and Scattered-Disk Objects". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d "List of known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d Michael E. Brown. "How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system?". California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  6. ^ minorplanetcenter.net: q>30, a>150
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