(495603) 2015 AM281

(495603) 2015 AM281, provisional designation 2015 AM281, is a resonant trans-Neptunian object and a probable dwarf planet candidate from the outermost region of the Solar System, approximately 470 kilometers (290 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 13 March 2010, by astronomers with the Pan-STARRS survey at Haleakala Observatory, Hawaii, United States.[1]

(495603) 2015 AM281
Discovery [1][2]
Discovered byPan-STARRS 1
Discovery siteHaleakala Obs.
Discovery date13 March 2010
Designations
(495603) 2015 AM281
2015 AM281
TNO [3] · res 2:5[4]
distant [1]
Orbital characteristics [3]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 3 · 1[1]
Observation arc17.14 yr (6,261 d)
Aphelion68.916 AU
Perihelion41.357 AU
55.137 AU
Eccentricity0.2499
409.42 yr (149,540 d)
335.33°
0° 0m 8.64s / day
Inclination26.719°
22.124°
158.18°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
468 km (est.)[4]
479 km (est.)[5]
0.07 (assumed)[5]
0.09 (assumed)[4]
4.8[1][3]

    Discovery

    The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in April 2000, nearly 10 years prior to its official discovery observation at Haleakala Observatory.[1] The discovery was announced in a Minor Planet Electronic Circular in July 2016, after additional observations by Pan-STARRS had been found (2010–2013), preceding the team's original observation from 11 January 2015, which led to the assignment of the object's first and only provisional designation, 2015 AM281.[2] The observations were made with Pan-STARRS 1.8-meter Ritchey–Chrétien telescope, and B. Gibson, T. Goggia, N. Primak, A. Schultz, and M. Willman were the observers.[2]

    Orbit and classification

    2015 AM281 is a resonant trans-Neptunian object in a 2:5 orbital resonance with Neptune, which means that it orbits the Sun exactly twice while Neptune orbits the Sun five times.[4] Several objects in this resonance with a period of 410 years have been found, including 2002 TC302.

    It orbits the Sun at a distance of 41.4–68.9 AU once every 409 years and 5 months (149,540 days; semi-major axis of 55.14 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.25 and an inclination of 27° with respect to the ecliptic.[3] It still has an orbital uncertainty of 1 and 3, respectively.[1][3]

    Numbering and naming

    This minor planet was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 9 June 2017 and received the number 495603 in the minor planet catalog (M.P.C. 105261).[6] As of 2018, it has not been named.[1]

    Physical characteristics

    According to the Johnston's archive and American astronomer Michael Brown, 2015 AM281 measures 468 and 479 kilometers in diameter based on an assumed albedo of 0.09 and 0.07, respectively.[4][5] On his website, Michael Brown lists this object as a "probable" dwarf planet (400–500 km) which is the category with the second lowest certainty in his 5-class taxonomic system.[5] As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[3][7]

    References
    1. "495603 (2015 AM281)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
    2. "MPEC 2016-O294: 2015 AM281". Minor Planet Electronic Circular. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
    3. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 495603 (2015 AM281)" (2017-05-28 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
    4. Johnston, Wm. Robert (7 October 2018). "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
    5. Brown, Michael E. "How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system?". California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
    6. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
    7. "LCDB Data for (495603)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 29 November 2018.

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