(148975) 2001 XA255

(148975) 2001 XA255, provisional designation 2001 XA255, is a dark minor planet in the outer Solar System, classified as centaur, approximately 20 kilometers in diameter.[1] The object is currently trapped in a 1:1 mean-motion resonance with Neptune following a path of the horseshoe type.[3]

(148975) 2001 XA255
Discovery
Discovered byDavid C. Jewitt, Scott S. Sheppard and Jan Kleyna
Discovery date9 December 2001
Designations
(148975) 2001 XA255
Centaur
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5)
Uncertainty parameter 2
Observation arc3812 days (10.44 yr)
Aphelion48.731 AU (7.2901 Tm)
Perihelion9.3364 AU (1.39671 Tm)
29.034 AU (4.3434 Tm)
Eccentricity0.67843
156.44 yr (57141.1 d)
12.809°
0° 0m 22.681s / day
Inclination12.628°
105.89°
90.452°
Jupiter MOID4.12722 AU (617.423 Gm)
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
12.5 km[2]
37.700 km[1]
0.041[1]
11.1[1]

    Discovery

    2001 XA255 was discovered on December 9, 2001 by David C. Jewitt, Scott S. Sheppard, and Jan Kleyna observing from the Mauna Kea Observatory.[4]

    Orbit

    2001 XA255 follows a very eccentric orbit (0.68) with perihelion just inside the orbit of Saturn, aphelion in the trans-Neptunian belt and a semi-major axis of 28.9 AU. The orbital inclination of this object is moderate at 12.6º.[1]

    Physical properties

    The object has an estimated diameter of 12.5 km and it was classified as an inactive centaur by David C. Jewitt.[2] Observations by the NEOWISE mission gave a larger diameter of 37.7 kilometers and an albedo of 0.041. It has an absolute magnitude is 11.1.[1]

    Resonance with Neptune

    2001 XA255 was identified as trapped in a 1:1 mean-motion resonance with Neptune and 1:2 with Uranus by T. Gallardo in 2006.[5] The object is dynamically unstable and it entered the region of the giant planets relatively recently, perhaps 50,000 years ago, from the scattered disk. It follows a short-lived horseshoe orbit around Neptune.[3]

    References

    1. "148975 (2001 XA255)". JPL Small-Body Database. NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
    2. Jewitt, David C. (2009). "The Active Centaurs". The Astronomical Journal. 137 (5): 4296–4312. arXiv:0902.4687. Bibcode:2009AJ....137.4296J. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/137/5/4296.
    3. de la Fuente Marcos, C.; de la Fuente Marcos, R. (2012). "Four temporary Neptune co-orbitals: (148975) 2001 XA255, (310071) 2010 KR59, (316179) 2010 EN65, and 2012 GX17". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 547: L2. arXiv:1210.3466. Bibcode:2012A&A...547L...2D. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201220377.
    4. Jewitt, David C.; Sheppard, S. S.; Kleyna, J.; Marsden, B. G. "2001 XA255". Minor Planet Electronic Circular.
    5. ADS link Gallardo, T. (2006) Atlas of the mean-motion resonances in the Solar System
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