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2002 RN₁₀₉ is a trans-Neptunian astronomical object and damocloid on a highly eccentric, cometary-like orbit. It was first observed on 6 September 2002, by astronomers of the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research project at its ETS near Socorro, New Mexico, United States. The unusual object is approximately 4 kilometers (2 miles) in diameter. It has the second-highest orbital eccentricity of any known minor planet, after 2005 VX3.

Description

2002 RN₁₀₉ may be a dormant comet that has not been seen outgassing. In the past it may have made closer approaches to the Sun that could have removed most near-surface volatiles. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.7–1,091 AU once every 12,783 years (semi-major axis of 546.7 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.9951 and an inclination of 58° with respect to the ecliptic. The body's observation arc began with a precovery observation at Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site on 16 August 2002, or three weeks prior to its first observation. The observation arc is only 80 days long. The object has not been observed since November 2002, about 2 months before it came to perihelion 2.7 AU from the Sun. During perihelion passage the object was 2.9 AU from Earth.

2002 RN₁₀₉ belongs to the dynamical group of damocloids due to its low Tisserand parameter (T_Jupiter of 1.0820). It is also a Jupiter-, Saturn-, Uranus-, and Neptune-crosser. The object has the seventh-largest heliocentric semi-major axis and aphelion of all known minor planets, while its extreme eccentricity brings it well within the orbit of Jupiter when at perihelion.

See also

• List of Solar System objects by greatest aphelion

References

1. ^ "2002 RN109". Minor Planet Center. 38 total observations over interval: 2002 08 16.36906 – 2002 11 04.41631
2. ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2002 RN109)" (2002-11-04 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
3. ^ Johnston, Wm. Robert (7 October 2018). "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
4. "List Of Other Unusual Objects". Minor Planet Center. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
5. "JPL Small-Body Database Search Engine: Asteroids and a > 100 (AU)". JPL Solar System Dynamics. Retrieved 15 October 2014. (Epoch defined at will change every 6 months or so)

External links

• 2002 RN109 at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit viewer · Orbit parameters · Physical parameters

• Damocloids
• Trans-Neptunian objects
• Unusual minor planets
• Minor planet object articles (unnumbered)
• Astronomical objects discovered in 2002
• Inner Oort cloud