(508338) 2015 SO20

(508338) 2015 SO20 is an extreme trans-Neptunian object and extended scattered disc object from the outermost region of the Solar System, approximately 220 kilometers (140 miles) in diameter.

(508338) 2015 SO20
Discovery [1][2][3]
Discovered byM. E. Schwamb
Discovery siteLa Silla Obs.
Discovery date8 October 2010
Designations
(508338) 2015 SO20
2015 SO20 · 2010 TF182
TNO [1] · E-SDO [4]
distant [2] · detached
extreme
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 2
Observation arc6.96 yr (2,543 days)
Aphelion290.09 AU
Perihelion33.164 AU
161.63 AU
Eccentricity0.7948
2054.81 yr (750,519 d)
0.0032°
0° 0m 1.8s / day
Inclination23.451°
33.619°
354.80°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions221 km (calculated)[5]
222 km (calculated)[4]
0.08 (assumed)[5]
0.09 (assumed)[4]
6.5[1] · 6.7[5]

    Description

    This minor planet was first observed as 2010 TF182 on 8 October 2010, by American astronomer Megan Schwamb at ESO's La Silla Observatory in northern Chile.[2] It has also been observed as 2015 SO20 during the Calar Alto TNO Survey (Z79) at the Calar Alto Observatory, Spain, on 20 September 2015.[3]

    It orbits the Sun at a distance of 33.2–290.1 AU once every 2054 years and 9 months (semi-major axis of 161 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.79 and an inclination of 23° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

    Extended scattered disc

    It is one a small number of detached objects with perihelion distances of 30 AU or more, and semi-major axes of 150 AU or more.[6] Such objects can not reach such orbits without some perturbing object, which lead to the speculation of planet nine.

    Physical characteristics

    Based on an absolute magnitude of 6.5 and an assumed albedo of 0.09, the Johnston's Archive calculated a mean-diameter of 222 kilometers.[4] Michael Brown estimates an albedo of 0.08 with a diameter of 221 kilometers using an absolute magnitude of 6.7. He also considers it a dwarf-planet candidate with a low probability ("possible").[5]

    See also

    References
    1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 508338 (2015 SO20)" (2017-09-24 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
    2. "(508338) 2015 SO20". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
    3. "List Of Centaurs and Scattered-Disk Objects". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
    4. "List of known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
    5. Michael E. Brown. "How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system?". California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
    6. minorplanetcenter.net: q>30, a>150

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