| Minorplanet | yes |
|---|---|
| Background |
|
| Discoverer | A. C. Becker A. W. Puckett J. Kubica |
| Discovery site | Apache Point Obs. |
| Discovered | 4 November 2007 |
| Mp category | Neptune trojan · [1] centaur[2] · distant[3] |
| Epoch | 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) |
| Uncertainty | 4 |
| Observation arc | 5.19 yr (1,894 days) |
| Aphelion | 31.729 AU |
| Perihelion | 28.122 AU |
| Semimajor | 29.926 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.0603 |
| Period | 163.71 yr (59,795 days) |
| Mean anomaly | 10.760° |
| Mean motion | / day |
| Inclination | 28.155° |
| Asc node | 188.69° |
| Arg peri | 216.70° |
| Mean diameter | 110 km (est. at 0.10)[4] 160 km[5] |
| Magnitude | 22.2[5] |
| Abs magnitude | 7.9[2] |
' is an inclined Neptune trojan that shares Neptune's orbit in the Lagrangian point. 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, although images from 2005 have also been recovered.[3] It measures approximately 160 kilometers in diameter and was the sixth Neptune trojan to be discovered.[1] As of 2016, it is 34.1 AU from Neptune.[6]
Orbit and classification
Neptune trojans can be considered resonant trans-Neptunian objects 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).
belongs to the leading group, which orbits 60° ahead of Neptune's orbit. It orbits the Sun with a semi-major axis of 29.926 AU at a distance of 28.1–31.7 AU once every 163 years and 9 months (59,795 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.06 and an inclination of 28° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] Its inclination is almost as high as that of .[1]
Physical characteristics
Diameter
The discoverers estimate that has a mean diameter of 160 kilometers based on a magnitude of 22.2.[5] Based on a generic magnitude-to-diameter conversion, it measures approximately 110 kilometers in diameter using an absolute magnitude of 7.9 with an assumed albedo of 0.10.[4]
Numbering and naming
This minor planet was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 18 May 2019 (M.P.C. 114650).[7] As of 2025, it has not been named.[3] If named, it will follow the naming scheme already established with 385571 Otrera and 385695 Clete, 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.[8]
References
- ^ "List Of Neptune Trojans". Minor Planet Center. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2007 VL305)" (2011-01-10 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
- ^ "2007 VL305". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
- ^ "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS/JPL. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
- ^ Lakdawalla, Emily (13 August 2010). "2008 LC15, the first Trojan asteroid discovered in Neptune's L5 point". The Planetary Society. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
- ^ 2007 VL305 at JPL Horizons Change "Observer Location" to @Neptune
- ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ^ 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)". IAU. Retrieved 25 August 2018.