2013 LA2
High-inclination centaur
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2013 LA2 is a centaur and damocloid on a cometary-like and retrograde orbit from the outer Solar System, suggesting that it is an extinct comet. It was first observed on 1 June 2013 by astronomers with the Pan-STARRS survey at Haleakala Observatory, Hawaii, in the United States.[1] The object measures approximately 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) in diameter.[3] It holds the record for having the highest orbital inclination of any known minor planet.
(first observed only)
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Pan-STARRS 1 |
| Discovery site | Pan-STARRS |
| Discovery date | 1 June 2013 (first observed only) |
| Designations | |
| 2013 LA2 | |
| centaur[2] · damocloid[3] unusual[4] · main-belt[1] | |
| Orbital characteristics[2] | |
| Epoch 31 May 2020 (JD 2459000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 7 | |
| Observation arc | 41 days |
| Aphelion | 8.331 AU |
| Perihelion | 3.0376 AU |
| 5.6841 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.4656 |
| 13.55 yr (4,950 d) | |
| 197.7432° | |
| 0° 4m 21.72s / day | |
| Inclination | 175.09° |
| 243.90° | |
| 325.17° | |
| Jupiter MOID | 0.1752 AU |
| Saturn MOID | 0.8945 AU[1] |
| TJupiter | –0.928 |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 1.8 km (est.)[3] | |
| 0.09 (assumed)[3] | |
| 16.9[1][2] | |
Orbit and classification
2013 LA2 orbits the Sun at a distance of 3.0–12.0 AU once every 20 years and 7 months (7,519 days; semi-major axis of 7.51 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.59 and an inclination of 175° with respect to the ecliptic.[2]
It has the highest orbital inclination of any known minor planet which gives it a retrograde orbit. The objects's orbit takes it from the outer region of the asteroid belt to between the orbit of Saturn (9.5 AU) and Uranus (19.2 AU). The body's short observation arc of less than a month begins with its first observation on 1 June 2013. It has not since been observed.[1]