(418993) 2009 MS9, provisionally known as 2009 MS9, is a centaur roughly 30–60 km in diameter. It has a highly inclined orbit and a barycentric semi-major axis (average distance from the Sun) of ~353 AU.[a]

(418993) 2009 MS9
Discovery[1][2]
Discovered byCFHT (568)
Discovery date25 June 2009
Designations
(418993) 2009 MS9
Centaur (DES)[3]
Orbital characteristics[4]
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5)
Uncertainty parameter 2
Observation arc2352 days (6.44 yr)
Aphelion696 AU (barycentric 2050)[a]
684 AU
Perihelion11.002 AU (1.6459 Tm)
353 AU (barycentric 2050)[a]
347.6 AU
Eccentricity0.96835
6481.05 yr (2367202 d)
0.16189°
0° 0m 0.547s / day
Inclination68.056°
220.226°
128.675°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions30–60 km[5]
21[6]
9.9[4]

2009 MS9 has a well determined orbit and has been assigned a minor planet number. Objects such 2009 MS9 may be the origin of Halley-type comets.[2]

It came to perihelion in February 2013 at a distance of 11 AU from the Sun (outside the orbit of Saturn).[4] As of 2016, it is 12 AU from the Sun.[6]

It will not be 50 AU from the Sun until 2047. After leaving the planetary region of the Solar System, 2009 MS9 will have a barycentric aphelion of 696 AU with an orbital period of 6640 years.

In a 10 million year integration of the orbit, the nominal (best-fit) orbit and both 3-sigma clones remain outside 8.3AU (qmin) from the Sun.[3]

Orbital evolution
Epoch Barycentric
Aphelion (Q)
(AU)
Orbital
period
yr
1950 694 6610
2050 696 6640

Notes

edit
  1. ^ a b c Given the orbital eccentricity of this object, different epochs can generate quite different heliocentric unperturbed two-body best-fit solutions to the semi-major axis and orbital period. For objects at such high eccentricity, the Sun's barycentric coordinates are more stable than heliocentric coordinates. Using JPL Horizons, the barycentric semi-major axis is approximately 353 AU.[7]

References

edit
  1. ^ "MPEC 2009-S59 : 2009 MS9". IAU Minor Planet Center. 2009-09-20. Retrieved 2016-02-11. (K09M09S)
  2. ^ a b Parker, Joel; Jones, Lynne; Petit, Jean-Marc; Rousselot, Philippe (2010). "Scrutinizing the Extreme TNO 2009 MS9". National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO): 285. Bibcode:2010noao.prop..285P.
  3. ^ a b Marc W. Buie. "Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for 418993". SwRI (Space Science Department). Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  4. ^ a b c "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 418993 (2009 MS9)" (last observation: 2015-12-03; arc: 6.44 yr). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  5. ^ "Absolute Magnitude (H)". NASA/JPL. Archived from the original on 2001-03-02. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
  6. ^ a b "AstDyS (418993) 2009MS9 Ephemerides". Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Italy. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  7. ^ Horizons output. "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for 2009 MS9". Retrieved 2016-02-11. (Solution using the Solar System Barycenter and barycentric coordinates. Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
edit