(84522) 2002 TC302

Template: Infobox Asteroid / Maintenance / Error 2

(84522) 2002 TC302 is a great transneptunisches object that was discovered in October 2002. It belongs to the category of resonant Kuiper belt objects. 2002 TC302 moves in an orbit whose orbital period is in a 5:2 ratio to the orbital period of Neptune.

• 3.1 size
• 3.2 Surface

Discovery and designation

2002 TC302 was discovered at Palomar Observatory on 9 October 2002 by a team of astronomers from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena consisting of Mike Brown, Chad Trujillo and David Rabinowitz Lincoln.

Web properties

Orbit

2002 TC302 orbits the sun on a prograde, relatively highly elliptical orbit between about 39 and 72 AU ( almost 6 billion kilometers to nearly 11 billion miles) distance. The orbital eccentricity is 0.298, the orbit is inclined 35 degrees to the ecliptic.

The orbital period of 2002 TC302 is 416 years. It will reach perihelion in 2058.

Orbital resonance

The Deep Ecliptic Survey and the Minor Planet Center show the orbit in a 5:2 resonance with Neptune. 2002 TC302, according to ( 225 088 ) 2007 OR10 is the second largest resonant KBO that is not Plutino.

Rotation

2002 TC302 rotates in probably just under five and a half hours once around its axis. It follows that the asteroid in a 2002 TC302 - year 674 333 own twists ( "days" ) performs.

Physical Properties

Size

The diameter of 2002 TC302 was calculated from the Spitzer Space Telescope at 1145 km, where the uncertainty is several hundred kilometers. This estimate is based on an assumed albedo of 0.031 and an absolute brightness of 3.8673 mag. Mike Brown of the discovery team estimates the diameter of a less than likely. If the albedo be greater, this would correct the diameter down.

Surface

Investigations in the infrared spectrum indicate that there is very little fresh water ice on the surface of 2002 TC302; this could explain the below-average albedo estimation. If the albedo be correct, would be 2002 before TC302 ( 120347 ) Salacia the darkest large TNO is currently known.

Dwarf planet candidate

Since it is assumed that in 2002 TC302 is and must therefore be largely around due to its size in hydrostatic equilibrium, he would have the criteria for classification as a dwarf planet meet. Mike Brown estimates the asteroid as most likely a dwarf planet, one; he would classify him because of his size at safer diameter values ​​" almost certainly " as a dwarf planet.

Research

Since the discovery of the asteroid was observed by different telescopes like the Spitzer and ground-based telescopes, so far a total of 76 times within 11 years. (As of Sept. 2012 )