2011 HM102
Discovery [1][2] | |
---|---|
Discovered by | New Horizons KBO Search (268) |
Discovery site |
Magellan I (Clay) Telescope Las Campanas Obs. |
Discovery date |
29 April 2011 (discovery: first observation only) |
Designations | |
MPC designation | 2011 HM102 |
Neptune trojan · L5 [3] TNO [1] · distant [2] | |
Orbital characteristics [1] | |
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
Uncertainty parameter 6 | |
Observation arc | (354 days) |
Aphelion | 32.778 AU |
Perihelion | 27.660 AU |
30.219 AU | |
Eccentricity | 0.0847 |
166.12 yr (60,675 days) | |
33.571° | |
0° 0m 21.24s / day | |
Inclination | 29.348° |
100.97° | |
151.24° | |
Physical characteristics | |
Dimensions | 100 km (est. at 0.10)[4] |
8.1[1] | |
|
2011 HM102 is the ninth Neptune trojan discovered. It was first observed on 29 April 2011, by the New Horizons KBO Search (268) using one of the Magellan Telescopes at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile.[2][5] It has the same orbital period as Neptune and orbits at the L5 Lagrangian point about 60 degrees backwards of Neptune.[3]
Orbit and classification
Neptune trojans are resonant trans-Neptunian objects (TNO) in a 1:1 mean-motion orbital resonance with Neptune. These Trojans have a semi-major axis (a) very similar Neptune's (30.10 AU).
2011 HM102 orbits the Sun with a semi-major axis of 30.219 AU at a distance of 27.7–32.8 AU once every 166 years and 1 month (60,675 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.08 and an inclination of 29° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] Among the first 17 Neptune trojans discovered so far, it is the one with the highest inclination.[3]
Physical properties
Diameter and albedo
Based on a generic magnitude-to-diameter conversion, it measures approximately 100 kilometers in diameter using an absolute magnitude of 8.1 and an assumed albedo of 0.10.[4] It is an averaged-sized body among the first 17 Neptune trojans discovered so far, which measure between 60 and 200 kilometers (for an absolute magnitude of 9.3–6.6 and an assumed albedo of 0.10).[3][4]
Exploration
In October 2012, 2011 HM102 was the closest known object of any kind to the New Horizons spacecraft.[6] In mid- to late 2013, New Horizons passed within 1.2 AU of 2011 HM102, where it would be detectable with one of the onboard instruments.[5] An observation from New Horizons would measure the phase curve of 2011 HM102 at phase angles unobtainable from Earth. The New Horizons team eventually decided that they would not target 2011 HM102 for observations because the preparations for the Pluto approach took precedence.[7]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2011 HM102)" (2012-04-17 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- 1 2 3 "2011 HM102". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 "List Of Neptune Trojans". Minor Planet Center. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- 1 2 3 "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS/JPL. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- 1 2 Parker, Alex H.; Buie, Marc W.; Osip, David J.; Gwyn, Stephen D. J.; Holman, Matthew J.; Borncamp, David M.; et al. (April 2013). "2011 HM102: Discovery of a High-inclination L5 Neptune Trojan in the Search for a Post-Pluto New Horizons Target". The Astronomical Journal. 145 (4): 96, 6 pp. Bibcode:2013AJ....145...96P. arXiv:1210.4549v2 . doi:10.1088/0004-6256/145/4/96. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- ↑ Alex Parker (9 October 2012). "Citizen "Ice Hunters" help find a Neptune Trojan target for New Horizons". The Planetary Society. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- ↑ Alex Parker (30 April 2013). "2011 HM102: A new companion for Neptune". The Planetary Society. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
External links
- A. Parker – 2011 HM102: A new companion for Neptune – TPS
- MPEC 2012-T05 : 2011 HM102
- YouTube video showing the orbital evolution
- Discoverer comments
- AstDyS-2 about 2011 HM102
- 2011 HM102 at the JPL Small-Body Database