2015 FG415
2015 FG415 is a trans-Neptunian object from the scattered disc, located in the outermost region of the Solar System. It was discovered on 17 March 2015, by American astronomer Scott Sheppard at the Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii,[1] and received the provisional designation 2015 FG415. As of 2021[update], it is the 9th-most-distant object from the Sun at 87.2 AU and measures approximately 280 kilometers (170 miles) in diameter.[5]
| Discovery[1][2][3] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | S. S. Sheppard |
| Discovery site | Mauna Kea Obs. |
| Discovery date | 17 March 2015 |
| Designations | |
| 2015 FG415 | |
| Orbital characteristics[4] | |
| Epoch 1 July 2021 (JD 2459396.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 6[1] · 7[4] | |
| Observation arc | 3.89 yr (1,419 d) |
| Aphelion | 91.925 AU |
| Perihelion | 36.009 AU |
| 63.967 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.4371 |
| 511.61 yr (186,866 d) | |
| 227.77° | |
| 0° 0m 6.84s / day | |
| Inclination | 4.7230° |
| 6.7523° | |
| 314.55° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
Mean diameter | 280 km (est.)[5][7] |
| 6.0[1][4] | |
Orbit and classification Edit
2015 FG415 orbits the Sun at a distance of 36.0–91.9 AU once every 511 years and 7 months (186,866 days; semi-major axis of 63.97 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.44 and an inclination of 5° with respect to the ecliptic.[4]
It is classified as a scattered disc object,[5] or "near-scattered" in the classification of the Deep Ecliptic Survey,[6] that still interacts gravitationally with Neptune (30.1 AU) due to its relatively low perihelion of 36.0 AU, contrary to the extended-scattered/detached objects and sednoids which never approach Neptune as close.
Most distant objects from the Sun Edit
2015 FG415 will come to perihelion in 2209,[4] moving towards the Sun, currently located at a distance of 87.2 AU,[8] which makes it the 9th-most-distant known minor planet in the Solar System,[9] after 2018 AG37, 2018 VG18, 2020 FY30, 2020 FA31, Eris, 2015 TH367, 2014 UZ224, and Gonggong, (also see List of Solar System objects most distant from the Sun § Known distant objects).
Physical characteristics Edit
Based on a generic magnitude-to-diameter conversion, 2015 FG415 measures approximately 280 kilometers (170 miles) in diameter, for an assumed albedo of 0.9 with an absolute magnitude of 6.0.[5][7] Mike Brown considers this object to be a weak dwarf planet candidate ("possibly") estimating a mean-diameter of 277 km (170 mi).[10] As of 2021[update], no rotational lightcurve for this object has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[4]
References Edit
- ^ a b c d "2015 FG415". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "MPEC 2019-F96 : 2015 FG415 (K15Ff5G)". Minor Planet Electronic Circular. Minor Planet Center. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "List Of Centaurs and Scattered-Disk Objects". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2015 FG415)" (2019-02-03 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for 15FG415". Southwest Research Institute. Retrieved 8 September 2021. (The Deep Ecliptic Survey Object Classifications)
- ^ a b "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "Asteroid 2015 FG415 – Proper Elements". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "Observational Query: objects more than 57.0 AU from the Sun". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site, Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Italy. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ Brown, Michael E. "How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system?". California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
External links Edit
- M.P.E.C. statistics for observer S. S. Sheppard
- 2015 FG415 at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
- Ephemeris · Observation prediction · Orbital info · Proper elements · Observational info
- 2015 FG415 at the JPL Small-Body Database