(15874) 1996 TL66

☆ Save On Wikipedia ↗
(15874) 1996 TL66
Discovery[1]
Discovered byD. C. Jewitt
J. X. Luu
J. Chen
C. A. Trujillo
Discovery siteMaunakea Obs.
Discovery date9 October 1996
Designations
TNO[2] · SDO[3]
distant[4]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5)
Uncertainty parameter 2
Observation arc5883 days (16.11 yr)
Aphelion131.75 AU (19.710 Tm)
Perihelion35.057 AU (5.2445 Tm)
83.403 AU (12.4769 Tm)
Eccentricity0.57967
761.70 yr (278211 d)
6.8505°
0° 0m 4.658s / day
Inclination24.006°
217.82°
184.79°
Physical characteristics
339±20 km[5]
575±115 km[6]
12 h (0.50 d)[2]
0.110+0.021
−0.015[5]
0.035+0.02
−0.01[6]
Prominent water (H
2O/"bowl" type)[7]: 5 
B–V = 0.687±0.072[8]
V–R = 0.369±0.052[8]
21[9]
5.4[2]

(15874) 1996 TL66 is a trans-Neptunian object of the scattered disc orbiting in the outermost region of the Solar System.[2][3]

The Spitzer Space Telescope has estimated this object to be about 575 kilometres (357 mi) in diameter,[6] but 2012 estimates from the Herschel Space Observatory estimate the diameter as closer to 339 kilometres (211 mi).[5] It is not a detached object, since its perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) is under the influence of Neptune.[3] Light-curve-amplitude analysis suggests that it is a spheroid.[10]

Discovery

Discovered in 1996 by David C. Jewitt et al., it was the first object to be categorized as a scattered-disk object (SDO), although (48639) 1995 TL8, discovered a year earlier, was later recognised as a scattered-disk object. It was considered one the largest known trans-Neptunian objects at the time of the discovery, being placed second after Pluto.[11] It came to perihelion in 2001.[2]

Orbit and size

1996 TL66's orbit

1996 TL66 orbits the Sun with a semi-major axis of 83.9 AU[2] but is currently only 35 AU from the Sun with an apparent magnitude of 21.[9] In 2007, the Spitzer Space Telescope estimated it to have a low albedo with a diameter of about 575±115 km.[6] More recent measurements in 2012 by the 'TNOs are Cool' research project and reanalysis of older data have resulted in a new estimate of these figures.[5] It is now assumed that it has a higher albedo and the diameter was revised downward to 339±20 km. Light-curve-amplitude analysis shows only small deviations, suggesting 1996 TL66 has a spheroidal shape with small albedo spots.[10]

References

  1. "MPEC 1997-B18: 1996 TL66". Minor Planet Center. 1997-01-30. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  2. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 15874 (1996 TL66)" (2006-07-30 last obs). Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  3. Marc W. Buie (2006-07-30). "Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for 15874". SwRI (Space Science Department). Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  4. "List Of Centaurs and Scattered-Disk Objects". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  5. Santos-Sanz, P.; et al. (2012). ""TNOs are Cool": A Survey of the Transneptunian Region IV. Size/albedo characterization of 15 scattered disk and detached objects observed with Herschel Space Observatory-PACS". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 541: A92. arXiv:1202.1481. Bibcode:2012A&A...541A..92S. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201118541. S2CID 118600525.
  6. John Stansberry; Will Grundy; Mike Brown; Dale Cruikshank; John Spencer; David Trilling; et al. (2007). "Physical Properties of Kuiper Belt and Centaur Objects: Constraints from Spitzer Space Telescope". arXiv:astro-ph/0702538.
  7. Pinilla-Alonso, Noemí; Brunetto, Rosario; De Prá, Mário N.; Holler, Bryan J.; Hénault, Elsa; Feliciano, Ana Carolina de Souza; et al. (December 2024). "A JWST/DiSCo-TNOs portrait of the primordial Solar System through its trans-Neptunian objects" (PDF). Nature Astronomy. 9 (2): 230–244. Bibcode:2025NatAs...9..230P. doi:10.1038/s41550-024-02433-2. S2CID 274932942.
  8. Hainaut, O. R.; Boehnhardt, H.; Protopapa, S. (October 2012). "Colours of minor bodies in the outer solar system. II. A statistical analysis revisited". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 546: 20. arXiv:1209.1896. Bibcode:2012A&A...546A.115H. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201219566. S2CID 54776793.
  9. "AstDys (15874) 1996TL66 Ephemerides". Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Italy. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
  10. Tancredi, G., & Favre, S. (2008) Which are the dwarfs in the Solar System?. Depto. Astronomía, Fac. Ciencias, Montevideo, Uruguay; Observatorio Astronómico Los Molinos, MEC, Uruguay. Retrieved 10-08-2011
  11. "1996 TO66 – Another Large Transneptunian Object". Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. 19 June 1997. Retrieved 18 July 2020.