2005 TN53

2005 TN53 is an inclined Neptune trojan leading Neptune's orbit in the outer Solar System, approximately 80 kilometers in diameter. It was first observed on 7 October 2005, by American astronomers Scott Sheppard and Chad Trujillo at Las Campanas Observatory in the Atacama desert of Chile.[2][3] It was the third such body to be discovered, and the first with a significant orbital inclination, which showed that the population as a whole is very dynamically excited.

2005 TN53
Discovery [1][2][3]
Discovered by
Discovery siteLas Campanas Obs.
Discovery date7 October 2005
(discovery: first observation only)
Designations
2005 TN53
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 4
Observation arc8.00 yr (2,921 days)
Aphelion31.940 AU
Perihelion28.088 AU
30.014 AU
Eccentricity0.0642
164.43 yr (60,059 days)
301.81°
0° 0m 21.6s / day
Inclination25.044°
9.3277°
90.167°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions
  • 68 km (est. at 0.10)[5]
  • 80 km[6]
23.7[6]
9.0[1]

    Orbit and classification

    Neptune trojans are resonant trans-Neptunian objects (TNO) in a 1:1 mean-motion orbital resonance with Neptune. These Trojans have a semi-major axis and an orbital period very similar to Neptune's (30.10 AU; 164.8 years).

    2005 TN53 belongs to the larger L4 group, which leads 60° ahead Neptune's orbit. It orbits the Sun with a semi-major axis of 30.014 AU at a distance of 28.1–31.9 AU once every 164 years and 5 months (60,059 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.06 and an inclination of 25° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

    It has the same orbital period as Neptune and orbits at the L4 Lagrangian point about 60° ahead of Neptune.[4] It has an inclination of 25 degrees.[1][4]

    Physical characteristics

    Diameter

    The discoverers estimate that 2005 TN53 has a mean-diameter of 80 kilometers based on a magnitude of 23.7.[6] Based on a generic magnitude-to-diameter conversion, it measures approximately 68 kilometers in diameter using an absolute magnitude of 9.0 and an assumed albedo of 0.10.[5]

    Numbering and naming

    Due to its orbital uncertainty, this minor planet has not been numbered and its official discoverers have not been determined.[1][2] If named, it will follow the naming scheme already established with 385571 Otrera, which is to name these objects after figures related to the Amazons, an all-female warrior tribe that fought in the Trojan War on the side of the Trojans against the Greek.[7]

    References
    1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2005 TN53)" (2013-10-06 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
    2. "2005 TN53". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
    3. Sheppard, Scott S.; Trujillo, Chadwick A. (July 2006). "A Thick Cloud of Neptune Trojans and Their Colors" (PDF). Science. 313 (5786): 511–514.(SciHomepage). Bibcode:2006Sci...313..511S. doi:10.1126/science.1127173. PMID 16778021. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
    4. "List Of Neptune Trojans". Minor Planet Center. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
    5. "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS/JPL. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
    6. Lakdawalla, Emily (13 August 2010). "2008 LC15, the first Trojan asteroid discovered in Neptune's L5 point". The Planetary Society. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
    7. Ticha, J.; et al. (10 April 2018). "DIVISION F / Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature. THE TRIENNIAL REPORT (2015 Sept 1 - 2018 Feb 15)" (PDF). IAU. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
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