(508869) 2002 VT130
Trans-Neptunian object
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(508869) 2002 VT130, provisional designation 2002 VT130, is a trans-Neptunian object and binary system from the classical Kuiper belt, located in the outermost region of the Solar System. It was discovered by American astronomer Marc Buie at Kitt Peak Observatory on 7 November 2002.[1][2] The primary measures approximately 324 kilometers (201 miles) in diameter.[7]
| Discovery[1][2] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | M. W. Buie |
| Discovery site | Kitt Peak Obs. |
| Discovery date | 7 November 2002 |
| Designations | |
| (508869) 2002 VT130 | |
| 2002 VT130 | |
| TNO[3] · binary[4] cubewano[5] (cold)[6] | |
| Orbital characteristics[3] | |
| Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 3 | |
| Observation arc | 14.39 yr (5,256 d) |
| Aphelion | 43.716 AU |
| Perihelion | 40.710 AU |
| 42.213 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.0356 |
| 274.27 yr (100,177 d) | |
| 125.69° | |
| 0° 0m 12.96s / day | |
| Inclination | 1.1643° |
| 334.29° | |
| 337.65° | |
| Known satellites | 1 (D: 205 km; P: 30.76 d)[4] |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 324+57 â68 km (combined)[7] | |
| Mass | (2.36±0.17)Ã1018 kg (orbit 1) or (2.27±0.16)Ã1018 kg (orbit 2)[8] |
| 0.097+0.098 â0.049[7] | |
| VâR = 0.56±0.10[4] BâV = 1.45[4] | |
| 5.7[1][3] | |
The object belongs to the cold classical population and is a binary.
Satellite
The companion was discovered by Keith Noll, Will Grundy, Susan Benecchi, and Hal Levison using Hubble Space Telescope on 21 September 2008. The discovery was announced on 24 September 2009. The moon's apparent separation from the primary was 3026±90 km with an orbital period of 30.7615±0.0064 d.[8]
Physical characteristics
The estimated combined size of 2002 VT130 is about 324+57
â68 km.[7] Johnston's Archive estimates a mean diameter of 251 km for the primary, and 205 km for the satellite based on a secondary-to-primary diameter ratio of 0.817.[4] 2002 VT130 shows significant photometric variability with a lightcurve amplitude of 0.21 magnitudes, which indicates one of its components has an elongated shape.[9]