(79983) 1999 DF9 is a trans-Neptunian object of the Kuiper belt, classified as a non-resonant cubewano, that measures approximately 270 kilometers in diameter.
Discovery[1] | |
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Discovered by | J. X. Luu C. Trujillo D. C. Jewitt |
Discovery site | Kitt Peak National Obs. |
Discovery date | 20 February 1999 |
Designations | |
MPC designation | (79983) 1999 DF9 |
Alternative designations | 1999 DF9 |
Minor planet category | TNO[1] · cubewano[2][3] |
Orbital characteristics[1] | |
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
Uncertainty parameter 2 | |
Observation arc | 17.06 yr (6,231 days) |
Aphelion | 53.567 AU |
Perihelion | 39.830 AU |
Semi-major axis | 46.698 AU |
Eccentricity | 0.1471 |
Orbital period (sidereal) | 319.12 yr (116,560 days) |
Mean anomaly | 19.489° |
Mean motion | 0° 0m 11.16s / day |
Inclination | 9.8105° |
Longitude of ascending node | 334.84° |
Argument of perihelion | 178.63° |
Physical characteristics | |
Dimensions | 265 km (calculated)[4] 306 km[3] |
Synodic rotation period | 6.65 h[5] |
Geometric albedo | 0.10 (assumed)[4] |
Spectral type | C[4] B–V = 0.920±0.060[6] V–R = 0.710±0.050[6] V–I = 1.360±0.060[6] |
Absolute magnitude (H) | 5.797±0.110 (R)[7] · 6.0[1][4] |
It was discovered on 20 February 1999, by American and British astronomers Jane Luu, Chad Trujillo and David C. Jewitt at the U.S. Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.[8] As no precoveries were taken, the minor planet's observation arc begins with its discovery observation in 1999.[8]
The carbonaceous minor planet is a classical Kuiper belt object or "cubewano", which are not in an orbital resonance with Neptune and do not cross the giant planet's orbit. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 39.8–53.6 AU once every 319 years and 1 month (116,560 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.15 and an inclination of 10° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] This makes it a relatively eccentric body for a classical Kuiper belt object, which typically have low-eccentricities of 0.10 or less.
In February 2001, a rotational lightcurve was published for this minor planet from photometric observations by Portuguese astronomer Pedro Lacerda and the discovering astronomer Jane Luu. Lightcurve analysis gave a relatively short rotation period of 6.65 hours with a brightness variation of 0.40 magnitude (U=2).[5]
The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a low albedo of 0.10 and calculates a mean-diameter of 265 kilometers, based on an absolute magnitude of 6.0,[4] while the Johnston's archive give a diameter of 306 kilometers for an albedo of 0.09.[3] Due to its small size, it is unlikely to be classified as a dwarf planet.
This minor planet was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 4 May 2004.[9] As of 2018, it has not been named.[8]
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