(523674) 2013 MA12

(523674) 2013 MA12, provisional designation 2013 MA12, is a classical trans-Neptunian object and dwarf planet candidate from the Kuiper belt, located in the outermost region of the Solar System, approximately 340 kilometers (210 miles) in diameter. The cubewano belongs to the hot population. It was discovered on 26 July 2011, by astronomers with the Pan-STARRS survey at Haleakala Observatory, Hawaii, United States.[1]

(523674) 2013 MA12
Discovery [1]
Discovered byPan-STARRS 1
Discovery siteHaleakalā Obs.
Discovery date26 July 2011
Designations
(523674) 2013 MA12
2013 MA12
TNO [2] · cubewano [3]
p-DP [4] · distant [1]
Orbital characteristics [2]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 3 · 2[1]
Observation arc6.17 yr (2,254 d)
Aphelion44.275 AU
Perihelion39.079 AU
41.677 AU
Eccentricity0.0623
269.06 yr (98,276 d)
254.40°
0° 0m 13.32s / day
Inclination23.334°
114.98°
314.83°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
336 km (est.)[3]
343 km (est.)[4]
0.08 (assumed)[4]
0.09 (assumed)[3]
5.6[1][2]

    Orbit and classification

    2013 MA12 orbits the Sun at a distance of 39.1–44.3 AU once every 269 years and 1 month (98,276 days; semi-major axis of 41.68 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.06 and an inclination of 23° with respect to the ecliptic.[2]

    As a cubewano, also known as classical Kuiper belt object, it is located in between the resonant plutino and twotino populations and has a low-eccentricity orbit. With an inclination above 8°, it belongs to the "stirred" hot population rather than to the cold population with low inclinations. The body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation in July 2011 at Haleakala Observatory.[1]

    Numbering and naming

    This minor planet was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 25 September 2018, together with hundreds of other centaurs, trans-Neptunian and near-Earth objects (see catalog entries from 523585 to 523800). This object received the number 523674 in the minor planet catalog (M.P.C. 111779).[5] As of 2018, it has not been named.[1]

    Physical characteristics

    According to the American astronomer Michael Brown, 2013 MA12 measures 343 kilometers in diameter based on an assumed albedo of 0.08.[4] On his website, Brown lists this object as a "possible" dwarf planet (200–400 km), which is the category with the lowest certainty in his 5-class taxonomic system.[4] Similarly, Johnston's archive estimates a diameter 336 kilometers using an albedo of 0.09.[3]

    As of 2018, no spectroscopic or photometric observations have been made. The body's spectral type, color indices, rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[2][6]

    References
    1. "523674 (2013 MA12)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
    2. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 523674 (2013 MA12)" (2017-09-26 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
    3. Johnston, Wm. Robert (7 October 2018). "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
    4. Brown, Michael E. "How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system?". California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
    5. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
    6. "LCDB Data for (523674)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 1 December 2018.

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