1993 RP

1993 RP
Discovery [1][2]
Discovered by David C. Jewitt
Jane X. Luu
Discovery site Mauna Kea Obs.
Discovery date 15 September 1993
(discovery: first observed only)
Designations
MPC designation 1993 RP
TNO [1] · plutino [3]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 16 September 1993 (JD 2449246.5)
Uncertainty parameter 9
Observation arc 2 days
Aphelion 43 ± 5500 AU
Perihelion 34 ± 450 AU
39 ± 5000 AU
Eccentricity 0.1 ± 124
Inclination 2.5 ± 192°
192 ± 55°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 70 km[3]
9.0[1]

    1993 RP might be a trans-Neptunian object from the Kuiper belt in the outermost Solar System, that may be 70 kilometers in diameter. But the object only has a very short 2-day observation arc so the orbit is so poorly constrained as to be almost worthless. It was first observed on 15 September 1993, by astronomers at the Mauna Kea Observatory, one night after (385185) 1993 RO and the night before (15788) 1993 SB.

    On the discovery date of 15 September 1993 the object is estimated to have been 34 AU (5.1 billion km) from Earth with an uncertainty in the objects distance of ±200 billion km. Johnston's website generically lists it as a plutino, like Pluto, which are objects that stay in a 2:3 orbital resonance with Neptune.[3]

    One-night stands like 1993 RP generally have many orbits that fit the uncertainties in the very small dataset. 1993 RP could be a TNO/centaur or a much closer main belt asteroid 100 times smaller in diameter. For example, 2004 PR107 was once thought to be a potential dwarf planet, but is now known to be a small main belt asteroid.

    As of 2018, the uncertainty in the objects distance from the Sun is ±7 trillion km (0.74 ly).

    See also

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (1993 RP)" (1993-09-17 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
    2. ↑ "1993 RP". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
    3. 1 2 3 "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects –1993 RP". Johnston's Archive. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.


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