is a resonant trans-Neptunian object located in the outermost region of the Solar System. The object measures approximately in diameter with a high albedo and stays in an uncommon orbital resonance (4:9) with Neptune. It was discovered on 21 October 2001 by astronomers of the Deep Ecliptic Survey program at Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Arizona, United States.
Classification and orbit orbits the Sun at a distance of 37.0–66.6 AU once every 372 years and 12 months (136,232 days; semi-major axis of 51.82 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.29 and an inclination of 1° with respect to the ecliptic. It came to perihelion on 8 October 1937, and has since been moving away from the Sun. In 2006, it moved beyond a distance of 50 AU and is at 53.7 AU . The body's observation arc begins with a precovery, published by the Digitized Sky Survey and taken at the Siding Spring Observatory in July 1982.
Numbering and naming was numbered (42301) by the Minor Planet Center on 26 May 2002 (). , it has not been named. According to the established naming conventions, it will receive a mythological or mythic name (not necessarily from Classical mythology).
Physical characteristics Lightcurve analysis shows only small deviations, suggesting that is a spheroid with small albedo spots. Observations with Spitzers Infrared Array Camera were used to study the body's surface composition. The analyzed data indicate the presence of 20% water ice, 60% amorphous silicates, and 20% organic compounds, including complex ones such as tholins.
Diameter and albedo measures approximately in diameter with a high albedo of 0.209.
Based on previous estimates published on the Lightcurve Data Base and on Michael Brown's website, measures between and , using an assumed intermediate surface albedo of 0.09 to 0.10 with an absolute magnitude of 4.49 and 4.4, respectively.
References
External links List Of Centaurs and Scattered-Disk Objects, Minor Planet Center The Meudon Multicolor Survey (2MS) of Centaurs and Trans-Neptunian objects TNO Colors KBO Surface Colors Red Planetoid Sedna covered in tar-colored sludge Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info ) Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (40001)-(45000), Minor Planet Center , Small Bodies Data Ferret