(131697) 2001 XH255, provisionally known as 2001 XH255, is a trans-Neptunian object (TNO) that has a 4:5 resonance with Neptune.[2]
Discovery[1] | |
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Discovered by |
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Discovery date | 11 December 2001 |
Designations | |
MPC designation | (131697) 2001 XH255 |
Minor planet category | |
Orbital characteristics[1] | |
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5) | |
Uncertainty parameter 3 | |
Observation arc | 4110 days (11.25 yr) |
Aphelion | 37.907 AU (5.6708 Tm) (Q) |
Perihelion | 32.339 AU (4.8378 Tm) (q) |
Semi-major axis | 35.123 AU (5.2543 Tm) (a) |
Eccentricity | 0.079253 (e) |
Orbital period (sidereal) | 208.16 yr (76030.5 d) |
Mean anomaly | 318.51° (M) |
Mean motion | 0° 0m 17.046s / day (n) |
Inclination | 2.8512° (i) |
Longitude of ascending node | 323.17° (Ω) |
Argument of perihelion | 217.87° (ω) |
Earth MOID | 31.3433 AU (4.68889 Tm) |
Jupiter MOID | 26.8986 AU (4.02397 Tm) |
Physical characteristics | |
Dimensions | 100 km (assumed)[4] |
Geometric albedo | 0.09 (assumed) |
Apparent magnitude | 23.6[5] |
Absolute magnitude (H) | 8.2[1] |
It will come to perihelion in 2041.[1]
Assuming a generic TNO albedo of 0.09, it is about 100 km in diameter.[4]
According to the Deep Ecliptic Survey and Minor Planet Center, (131697) 2001 XH255 has a 4:5 resonance with Neptune.[2][3] It comes as close as 32.2 AU from the Sun and has a fairly low orbital eccentricity of 0.07 with an inclination of only 2.86 degrees.[1]
The Neptune 4:5 resonance keeps it more than 7 AU from Neptune over a 14000-year period.[6]
It has been observed 21 times over 5 oppositions and has an orbit quality code of 3.[1]
A NASA study in 2019 that confirmed the viability of using small radioisotope or nuclear fission power systems combined with xenon electric propulsion for deep space exploration, used 2001 XH255 as a representative Kuiper Belt Object as the mission's destination to orbit.[7]
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Minor planets |
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Trans-Neptunian objects | |
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TNO classes |
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Dwarf planets (moons) | |
Sednoids |