Jump to content

(471325) 2011 KT19

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Agmartin (talk | contribs) at 17:26, 2 August 2017 (Details: resonance with Neptune). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

(471325) 2011 KT19
Discovery
Discovered by
Discovery date31 May 2011[1]
rediscovered 2015 by Pan-STARRS
Designations
Pronunciation/nk/
Named after
A Chinese adjective meaning "rebellious" [2]
Trans-Neptunian object
Orbital characteristics[3]
Epoch JD 2457600.5
Uncertainty parameter 2
Observation arc1779 days (4.87 yr)
Aphelion47.427 AU
Perihelion23.7805 AU
35.604 AU
Eccentricity0.33208
212.45 years
29.487°
Inclination110.1537°
243.77772°
322.174°
TJupiter-1.552
Physical characteristics
Dimensions75-250 km[4]
22[5]
7.2[4][3]

(471325) 2011 KT19 (nicknamed Niku) is a trans-Neptunian object (TNO) that has an unusual 110 degree tilted solar orbital plane and retrograde orbit around the Sun.[2][6][7]

Details

(471325) 2011 KT19 was discovered some time in 2010, and announced in August 2016 by a team of astronomers using the Pan-STARRS telescope. It was soon linked with a supposed prograde centaur (2011 KT19; inclination = 38° and semi-major axis = 28AU) that had been lost due to a short observation arc.[1][6] 2011 KT19 is in a 7:9 resonance with Neptune. Currently it is the only object with a nearly polar orbit that is in resonance with a planet.[8] Notably, it is part of a group of objects which orbit the Sun in a highly inclined orbit; the reasons for this unusual orbit are unknown as of August 2016.[9]

The orbital characteristics of 2011 KT19 have been compared to those of 2008 KV42 (Drac). The orbits of 2011 KT19, 2008 KV42, and four other objects appear to occupy a common plane, with three in prograde and three in retrograde orbits. The probability of this alignment occurring by chance is 0.016%. These orbits should leave a common plane in a few million years because the precession of prograde and retrograde orbits are in opposite directions. Simulations including the hypothetical Planet Nine did not maintain a common orbital plane and the plane does not coincide with the plane of the predicted high-inclination large semi-major axis objects of that model. Other simulations with a few Earth-mass dwarf planet on a high-inclination orbit also failed to reproduce the alignment.[6]

The orbit of 2011 KT19 in relation to the planets of the solar system and the dwarf planet Pluto

References

  1. ^ a b "MPEC 2011-L09 : 2011 KT19". IAU Minor Planet Center. 2 June 2011. (K11K19T; E-assumed due to short arc)
  2. ^ a b "Mystery object in weird orbit beyond Neptune cannot be explained". New Scientist. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  3. ^ a b "JPL Small-Body Database (2011 KT19)". JPL. NASA. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  4. ^ a b "IAU Minor Planet Center - 2011 KT19". Minor Planet Center. IAU. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  5. ^ "AstDyS (471325) 2011KT19 Ephemerides". Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  6. ^ a b c Chen, Ying-Tung; Lin, Hsing Wen; Holman, Matthew J; Payne, Matthew J; et al. (5 August 2016). "Discovery of A New Retrograde Trans-Neptunian Object: Hint of A Common Orbital Plane for Low Semi-Major Axis, High Inclination TNOs and Centaurs". arXiv:1608.01808 [astro-ph].
  7. ^ "What Makes the Solar System Like a Crime Scene? - Science Friday". 19 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  8. ^ Morais, M. H. M.; Nomouni, F. (2017). "First transneptunian object in polar resonance with Neptune". arXiv:1708.00346.
  9. ^ Dalton, Andrew (10 August 2016). "There's something weird going on beyond Neptune". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved 11 August 2016.