(527603) 2007 VJ305 (provisional designation 2007 VJ305) is an extreme trans-Neptunian object from the extended scattered disc on a highly eccentric orbit in the outermost region of the Solar System. It measures approximately 250 kilometers (160 miles) in diameter and is "possibly" a dwarf planet. The rather reddish extended scattered disc object belongs to the group of extreme trans-Neptunian objects. It was discovered on 4 November 2007 by astronomers Andrew Becker, Andrew Puckett and Jeremy Kubica at the Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico, United States.[1][2]

(527603) 2007 VJ305
Discovery[1][2]
Discovered byA. C. Becker
A. W. Puckett
J. Kubica
Discovery siteApache Point Obs.
Discovery date4 November 2007
Designations
(527603) 2007 VJ305
2007 VJ305
TNO[3] · ESDO[4]
p-DP[5] · ETNO
distant[1]
Orbital characteristics[3]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 2
Observation arc17.19 yr (6,278 d)
Aphelion346.97 AU
Perihelion35.147 AU
191.06 AU
Eccentricity0.8160
2640.9 yr (964,601 d)
1.8326°
0° 0m 1.44s / day
Inclination11.993°
24.377°
338.10°
Neptune MOID5.4 AU[1]
Physical characteristics
202 km (est.)[4]
279 km (est.)[5]
0.04 (assumed)[5]
0.09 (assumed)[4]
IR[4]
B–I = 1.960[6]
B–R = 1.440[6]
R–I = 0.520[6]
V–R = 0.520[6]
6.9[1][3]

Orbit and classification

edit

2007 VJ305 orbits the Sun at a distance of 35.1–347 AU once every 2640 years and 11 months (964,601 days; semi-major axis of 191.1 AU). Its orbit has an exceptionally high eccentricity of 0.82 and an inclination of 12° with respect to the ecliptic.[3] The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken during the Sloan Digital Sky Survey at Apache Point in November 2000.[1] It has a minimum orbital intersection distance with Neptune of 5.4 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.[7] 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

edit

2007 VJ305 was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 18 May 2019 (M.P.C. 114650).[8] As of 2019, it has not been named.[1]

Physical characteristics

edit

2007 VJ305's color is rather reddish with an intermediary IR spectral type and a B–R color index of 1.44.[4][6]

Diameter and albedo

edit

According to the Johnston's archive and to American astronomer Michael Brown, 2007 VJ305 measures 202 and 279 kilometers in diameter based on an assumed albedo of 0.09 and 0.04, respectively.[4][5] On his website, Michael Brown lists this object as "possibly" a dwarf planet (200–400 km) which is the least certain class in his 5-class taxonomic system.[5]

Rotation period and shape

edit

As of 2019, no rotational lightcurve of has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[3][9]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "(527603) 2007 VJ305". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b "List Of Centaurs and Scattered-Disk Objects". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2007 VJ305)" (2018-02-04 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e Brown, Michael E. "How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system?". California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Asteroid 2007 VJ305". Small Bodies Data Ferret. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Database Query: objects q>30, a>150". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  8. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  9. ^ "LCDB Data for (2007+VJ305)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 25 October 2018.
edit