• Source: 2002 RN109

      • 2002 RN109 is a trans-Neptunian astronomical object and damocloid on a highly eccentric, cometary-like orbit. It was first observed on 6 September 2002, by astronomers of the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research project at its ETS near Socorro, New Mexico, United States. The unusual object is approximately 4 kilometers (2 miles) in diameter. It has the second-highest orbital eccentricity of any known minor planet, after 2005 VX3.


      Description


      2002 RN109 may be a dormant comet that has not been seen outgassing. In the past it may have made closer approaches to the Sun that could have removed most near-surface volatiles. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.7–1,091 AU once every 12,783 years (semi-major axis of 546.7 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.9951 and an inclination of 58° with respect to the ecliptic. The body's observation arc began with a precovery observation at Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site on 16 August 2002, or three weeks prior to its first observation. The observation arc is only 80 days long. The object has not been observed since November 2002, about 2 months before it came to perihelion 2.7 AU from the Sun. During perihelion passage the object was 2.9 AU from Earth.
      2002 RN109 belongs to the dynamical group of damocloids due to its low Tisserand parameter (TJupiter of 1.0820). It is also a Jupiter-, Saturn-, Uranus-, and Neptune-crosser. The object has the seventh-largest heliocentric semi-major axis and aphelion of all known minor planets, while its extreme eccentricity brings it well within the orbit of Jupiter when at perihelion.


      See also


      List of Solar System objects by greatest aphelion


      References




      External links


      2002 RN109 at the JPL Small-Body Database

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