(523687)_2014_DF143

(523687) 2014 DF143

(523687) 2014 DF143

Cubewano asteroid in the Kuiper belt


(523687) 2014 DF143 (provisional designation 2014 DF143) is a trans-Neptunian object and cubewano from the Kuiper belt, located in the outermost region of the Solar System. It was discovered on 12 April 2011, by astronomers with the Pan-STARRS survey at Haleakala Observatory, Hawaii, United States.[1] The classical Kuiper belt object belongs to the hot population and is a dwarf planet candidate, as it measures approximately 350 kilometers (220 miles) in diameter.

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Orbit and classification

2014 DF143 orbits the Sun at a distance of 40.9–44.8 AU once every 280 years and 4 months (102,379 days; semi-major axis of 42.83 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.05 and an inclination of 24° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] It has an orbital uncertainty of 1–2.[1][2] The object's observation arc begins with a precovery taken by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in March 2002, 9 years prior to its official discovery observation at Haleakala Observatory in March 2011.[1]

2014 DF143 is a cubewano, a classical, low-eccentricity object in the Kuiper belt, located in between the two prominent resonant populations of the plutinos and twotinos. Due to its relatively high inclination, this cubewano belongs to the "stirred" hot population rather than to the larger cold population.

Numbering and naming

This minor planet was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 25 September 2018 and received the number 523687 in the minor planet catalog (M.P.C. 111779).[5] As of 2018, it has not been named.[1]

Physical characteristics

According to the American astronomer Michael Brown, 2014 DF143 measures 358 kilometers in diameter based on an assumed albedo of 0.08.[3] On his website, Michael Brown lists this object as a "possible" dwarf planet (200–400 km), which is the category with the lowest certainty in his 5-class taxonomic system.[3] Similarly, Johnston's archive estimates a diameter 352 kilometers using an albedo of 0.09.[4] As of 2018, no spectral type and color indices, nor a rotational lightcurve have been obtained from spectroscopic and photometric observations. The body's color, rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[2][6]


References

  1. "523687 (2014 DF143)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  2. Johnston, Wm. Robert (7 October 2018). "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  3. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  4. "LCDB Data for (495603)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 29 November 2018.

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