(15810) 1994 JR1

(15810) 1994 JR1
Discovery
Discovered by M. J. Irwin, A. Zytkow
Discovery date May 12, 1994
Designations
MPC designation (15810) 1994 JR1
Plutino[1][2]
Orbital characteristics[3]
Epoch April 18, 2013 (JD 2456400.5)
Aphelion 43.6977721 AU
Perihelion 34.7394915 AU
39.2186318 AU
Eccentricity 0.1142095
245.61 y (89709.1181843 d)
25.57449°
Inclination 3.80462 °
144.72980°
101.66735°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 127 km[4]
Albedo 0.09 (assumed)
7.7[3]

    (15810) 1994 JR1, also written (15810) 1994 JR1, is a minor planet that moves around the Sun in an orbit entirely located beyond Neptune. It is the first object that was confirmed to be a quasi-satellite of Pluto.[5]

    Discovery, orbit and physical properties

    (15810) 1994 JR1 was discovered on May 12, 1994 by M. J. Irwin and A. Zytkow with the 2.5 m Isaac Newton Telescope at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in the island of La Palma.[3] It is a plutino, so it is trapped in a 2:3 mean motion resonance with Neptune, similarly to dwarf planet Pluto (the largest known plutino). It has a perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) of 34.753 AU and an aphelion (farthest distance from the Sun) of 43.722 AU, so it is moving in a relatively eccentric orbit entirely beyond Neptune. It is about 127 km in diameter.[4]

    Quasi-satellite dynamical state and orbital evolution

    (15810) 1994 JR1 is currently following a quasi-satellite loop around Pluto.[5] In contrast with the cases of 2002 VE68 or (309239) 2007 RW10, the quasi-satellite state of (15810) 1994 JR1 is mainly the result of resonances with Neptune not caused by a discrete close encounter with another body. This dynamical behavior is recurrent: the object becomes a Plutonian quasi-satellite every 2 Myr and remains in that phase for nearly 350,000 years.[5][6]

    Origin

    (15810) 1994 JR1 is moving in a very stable orbit, likely as stable as Pluto's. This suggests that it may be a primordial plutino formed around the same time Pluto itself and Charon came into existence. It is unlikely to be relatively recent debris originated in collisions within Pluto’s system or a captured object.[5]

    Possible New Horizons flyby

    (15810) 1994 JR1 is currently a relatively close neighbor of Pluto's. In 2017, it will be only 2.7 AU from Pluto.[7] It is currently the best known target for a flyby by the New Horizons spacecraft after its Pluto flyby in 2015, but it is hoped that still better targets will be found by then.[8][9]

    References

    1. ↑ Marc W. Buie (2006-10-14). "Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for 15810". SwRI (Space Science Department). Retrieved 2008-10-02.
    2. ↑ Brian G. Marsden (2008-07-17). "MPEC 2008-O05 : Distant Minor Planets (2008 Aug. 2.0 TT)". IAU Minor Planet Center. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Archived from the original on 7 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 15810 (1994 JR1)" (2000-06-25 last obs). Retrieved 2008-10-02.
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Archived from the original on 18 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
    5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 de la Fuente Marcos, C.; de la Fuente Marcos, R. (November 2012). "Plutino 15810 (1994 JR1), an accidental quasi-satellite of Pluto". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters 427 (1): L85–L89. arXiv:1209.3116. Bibcode:2012MNRAS.427L..85D. doi:10.1111/j.1745-3933.2012.01350.x.
    6. ↑ "Pluto's fake moon". Archived from the original on 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2012-09-24.
    7. ↑ "50000 Quaoar distance (AU) from Pluto". Retrieved 2007-12-18.
    8. ↑ Ted Stryk / Emily Lakdawalla (January 24, 2011). "Ted Stryk: Report from the 2011 New Horizons Science Team Meeting". The Planetary Society Blog. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
    9. ↑ "25 closer candidates". Retrieved 2012-09-30.

    External links