(55565) 2002 AW197

Kuiper belt object

(55565) 2002 AW197 is a classical trans-Neptunian object from the Kuiper belt. It has a diameter of at least 700 kilometers ( i. e 430 miles).[1] It is the largest unnamed object in the Solar System and the largest planetoid without a moon. It was discovered at Palomar Observatory in 2002. It has a rotation period of 8.8 hours.[2]

Hubble Space Telescope image of 2002 AW197 taken in 2006

Discovery

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2002 AW197 was discovered on 10 January 2002, by astronomers at the Palomar Observatory in California.[3] Astronomers involved in the discovery were Michael Brown, Chad Trujillo, Eleanor Helin, Michael Hicks, Kenneth Lawrence and Steven H. Pravdo.[4]

Physical characteristics

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It has a diameter of at least 700 kilometers (430 miles).[1] It is the largest unnamed object in the Solar System and the largest planetoid without a moon.

It orbits the Sun at a distance of 40.9–53.2 AU once every 322.6 years. Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.13. It has an orbital inclination of 24°.[5]

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 "Astronomer Mike Brown". web.gps.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  2. "LCDB Data for (55565)". www.minorplanet.info. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  3. "IAU Minor Planet Center". www.minorplanetcenter.net. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  4. "MPEC 2002-O30 : 2002 AW197". minorplanetcenter.net. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  5. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-05.