- Source: (309239) 2007 RW10
(309239) 2007 RW10 (provisional designation 2007 RW10) is a temporary quasi-satellite of Neptune. Observed from Neptune, it would appear to revolve around it over one Neptunian year but in reality, it orbits the Sun, not Neptune.
Discovery, orbit and physical properties
(309239) 2007 RW10 was discovered by the Palomar Distant Solar System Survey on September 9, 2007, with precovery images from 1988 (also taken at Palomar). At the time of discovery, this minor body was believed to be a Neptune trojan, but it is no longer listed as such. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory classifies (309239) 2007 RW10 as trans-Neptunian object but
the Minor Planet Center includes the object among centaurs. It moves
in an orbit with an inclination of 36.2°, a semi-major axis of 30.18 AU, and an eccentricity of 0.3020. Herschel-PACS observations indicate that it has a diameter of 247 km.
Quasi-satellite dynamical state and orbital evolution
(309239) 2007 RW10 is currently following a quasi-satellite loop around Neptune. It has been a quasi-satellite of Neptune for about 12,500 years and it will remain in that dynamical state for around another 12,500 years. Prior to the quasi-satellite dynamical state, (309239) 2007 RW10 was an L5 trojan and it will return to this state soon after leaving its current quasi-satellite orbit. Its orbital inclination is the largest among known Neptune co-orbitals. It is also possibly the largest known object trapped in the 1:1 mean-motion resonance with any major planet.
Origin
(309239) 2007 RW10 is a dynamically hot (both, high eccentricity and inclination) object that is
unlikely to be a primordial Neptune co-orbital. It probably originated well beyond Neptune and was
later temporarily captured in the 1:1 resonance with Neptune.
See also
2005 TN74, which was also suspected of being a Neptune trojan at the time of discovery
References
External links
MPEC 2007-X06, Minor Planet Electronic Circular (1 December 2007)
2007 RW10 Precovery Images
(309239) 2007 RW10 at the JPL Small-Body Database