(309239) 2007 RW10
Minor planet and quasi-satellite of Neptune
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(309239) 2007 RW10 (provisional designation 2007 RW10) is a temporary quasi-satellite of Neptune.[3] Observed from Neptune, it would appear to revolve around it over one Neptunian year but in reality, it orbits the Sun, not Neptune.
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | PDSSS |
| Discovery date | 9 September 2007 |
| Designations | |
| TNO[1] · Nept. co-orbital centaur · distant | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 2 | |
| Observation arc | 10693 days (29.28 yr) |
| Aphelion | 39.28320 AU (5.876683 Tm) |
| Perihelion | 21.06436 AU (3.151183 Tm) |
| 30.17878 AU (4.514681 Tm) | |
| Eccentricity | 0.30201 |
| 165.79 yr (60555.1 d) | |
| 71.52911° | |
| 0° 0m 21.402s / day | |
| Inclination | 36.15744° |
| 187.06355° | |
| 95.64947° | |
| Known satellites | 0 |
| Earth MOID | 20.2499 AU (3.02934 Tm) |
| Jupiter MOID | 17.1323 AU (2.56296 Tm) |
| TJupiter | 3.880 |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 247±30 km[2] |
| 0.083+0.068 â0.039[2] | |
| 6.6[1] | |
Discovery, orbit and physical properties
2007 RW10 was discovered by the Palomar Distant Solar System Survey on September 9, 2007,[4][5] with precovery images from 1988 (also taken at Palomar).[6] At the time of discovery, this minor body was believed to be a Neptune trojan,[7] but it is no longer listed as such.[8][9] The Jet Propulsion Laboratory classifies 2007 RW10 as trans-Neptunian object but the Minor Planet Center includes the object among centaurs. It moves in an orbit with an inclination of 36.2°, a semi-major axis of 30.18 AU, and an eccentricity of 0.3020.[1] Herschel-PACS observations indicate that it has a diameter of 247 km.[2]
Quasi-satellite dynamical state and orbital evolution
2007 RW10 is currently following a quasi-satellite loop around Neptune.[3] It has been a quasi-satellite of Neptune for about 12,500 years and it will remain in that dynamical state for around another 12,500 years.[3] Prior to the quasi-satellite dynamical state, 2007 RW10 was an L5 trojan and it will return to this state soon after leaving its current quasi-satellite orbit. Its orbital inclination is the largest among known Neptune co-orbitals. It is also possibly the largest known object trapped in the 1:1 mean-motion resonance with any major planet.
Origin
See also
- (613100) 2005 TN74, which was also suspected of being a Neptune trojan at the time of discovery