(527603) 2007 VJ305 (provisional designation 2007 VJ305) is an extreme trans-Neptunian object from the extended scattered disc on a highly eccentric orbit in the outermost region of the Solar System. It measures approximately 250 kilometers (160 miles) in diameter and is "possibly" a dwarf planet. The rather reddish extended scattered disc object belongs to the group of extreme trans-Neptunian objects. It was discovered on 4 November 2007 by astronomers Andrew Becker, Andrew Puckett and Jeremy Kubica at the Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico, United States.[1][2]

(527603) 2007 VJ305
Discovery[1][2]
Discovered byA. C. Becker
A. W. Puckett
J. Kubica
Discovery siteApache Point Obs.
Discovery date4 November 2007
Designations
(527603) 2007 VJ305
2007 VJ305
TNO[3] · ESDO[4]
p-DP[5] · ETNO
distant[1]
Orbital characteristics[3]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 2
Observation arc17.19 yr (6,278 d)
Aphelion346.97 AU
Perihelion35.147 AU
191.06 AU
Eccentricity0.8160
2640.9 yr (964,601 d)
1.8326°
0° 0m 1.44s / day
Inclination11.993°
24.377°
338.10°
Neptune MOID5.4 AU[1]
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
202 km (est.)[4]
279 km (est.)[5]
0.04 (assumed)[5]
0.09 (assumed)[4]
IR[4]
B–I = 1.960[6]
B–R = 1.440[6]
R–I = 0.520[6]
V–R = 0.520[6]
6.9[1][3]

Orbit and classification

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2007 VJ305 orbits the Sun at a distance of 35.1–347 AU once every 2640 years and 11 months (964,601 days; semi-major axis of 191.1 AU). Its orbit has an exceptionally high eccentricity of 0.82 and an inclination of 12° with respect to the ecliptic.[3] The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken during the Sloan Digital Sky Survey at Apache Point in November 2000.[1] It has a minimum orbital intersection distance with Neptune of 5.4 AU.[1]

It belongs to a small group of detached objects with perihelion distances of 30 AU or more, and semi-major axes of 150 AU or more.[7] These extreme trans-Neptunian objects (ETNOs) can not reach such orbits without some perturbing object, which lead to the speculation of Planet Nine.

Numbering and naming

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2007 VJ305 was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 18 May 2019 (M.P.C. 114650).[8] As of 2019, it has not been named.[1]

Physical characteristics

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2007 VJ305's color is rather reddish with an intermediary IR spectral type and a B–R color index of 1.44.[4][6]

Diameter and albedo

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According to the Johnston's archive and to American astronomer Michael Brown, 2007 VJ305 measures 202 and 279 kilometers in diameter based on an assumed albedo of 0.09 and 0.04, respectively.[4][5] On his website, Michael Brown lists this object as "possibly" a dwarf planet (200–400 km) which is the least certain class in his 5-class taxonomic system.[5]

Rotation period and shape

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As of 2019, no rotational lightcurve of has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[3][9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "(527603) 2007 VJ305". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b "List Of Centaurs and Scattered-Disk Objects". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2007 VJ305)" (2018-02-04 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e Brown, Michael E. "How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system?". California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Asteroid 2007 VJ305". Small Bodies Data Ferret. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Database Query: objects q>30, a>150". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  8. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  9. ^ "LCDB Data for (2007+VJ305)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 25 October 2018.
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