(139775) 2001 QG298

(139775) 2001 QG298
Discovery
Discovered by Marc William Buie
Discovery date August 16, 2001
Designations
MPC designation (139775) 2001 QG298
Plutino (MPC)[1]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 2016-Jan-13.0 (JD 2457400.5)
Aphelion 46.642 AU
Perihelion 31.758 AU
39.200 AU
Eccentricity 0.190
245.43 a (89,645.031 d)
7.386°
Inclination 6.500 °
162.610°
309.327°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 122 km[3]
Mean density
 0.6–0.7 g/cm3[4]
13.7744 ± 0.0004 h[3]
Albedo 0.04 (assumed)[3]
Spectral type
 V−R=0.60 ± 0.02,
B−V=1.00 ± 0.04[3]
6.85[3]

    (139775) 2001 QG298 is a trans-Neptunian object (TNO) that resides in the Kuiper belt and was discovered on August 16, 2001 by Marc William Buie at Cerro Tololo Observatory.[2] It is classified as a plutino, which means that it is in the 3:2 mean motion resonance with Neptune.[1]

    Physical properties

    (139775) 2001 QG298 is a small plutino occupying the 3:2 mean motion resonance with Neptune. Its size is estimated at 122 km assuming a comet-like albedo of about 4%.[3]

    (139775) 2001 QG298 has a double peaked light curve with a large amplitude, which has changed from 1.14 in 2003 to 0.7 in 2010. This large amplitude implies that it is actually a contact binary consisting of two elongated components of approximately equal size viewed from almost the equatorial perspective. The size of the components separated by the distance of approximately 300 km will be then about 95 km each. The density of (139775) 2001 QG298 should be at least 0.6–0.7 g/cm3 for it to remain bound.[3][4]

    References

    1. 1 2 "MPEC G54: DISTANT MINOR PLANETS (2006 Apr. 25.0 TT) [27421-2007/05-R1]". IAU Minor Planet Center. 2006-04-14. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
    2. 1 2 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 139775 (2001 QG298)" (2010-10-04 last obs.). Retrieved 2016-02-24.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Scott S. Sheppard; David C. Jewitt (2004). "Extreme Kuiper Belt Object 2001 QG298 and the Fraction of Contact Binaries". The Astronomical Journal. 4127 (5): 3023–3033. Bibcode:2004AJ....127.3023S. doi:10.1086/383558.
    4. 1 2 Pedro Lacerda (2011). "A Change in the Lightcurve of Kuiper Belt Contact Binary (139775) 2001 QG298". The Astronomical Journal. 142: 90. arXiv:1107.3507Freely accessible. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/142/3/90.

    External links

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