Khain, T;
Becker, JC;
Adams, FC;
Gerdes, DW;
Hamilton, SJ;
Franson, K;
Zullo, L;
... Zhang, Y; + view all
(2018)
Dynamical Analysis of Three Distant Trans-Neptunian Objects with Similar Orbits.
The Astronomical Journal
, 156
(6)
, Article 273. 10.3847/1538-3881/aaeb2a.
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Abstract
This paper reports the discovery and orbital characterization of two extreme trans-Neptunian objects (ETNOs), 2016 QV89 and 2016 QU89, which have orbits that appear similar to that of a previously known object, 2013 UH15. All three ETNOs have semimajor axes a ≈ 172 au and eccentricities e ≈ 0.77. The angular elements (i, ω, Ω) vary by 6°, 15°, and 49°, respectively, between the three objects. The two new objects add to the small number of TNOs currently known to have semimajor axes between 150 and 250 au, and they serve as an interesting dynamical laboratory to study the outer realm of our solar system. Using a large ensemble of numerical integrations, we find that the orbits are expected to reside in close proximity in the (a, e) phase plane for roughly 100 Myr before diffusing to more separated values. We find that an explanation for the orbital configuration of the bodies as a collision product is disfavored. We then explore other scenarios that could influence their orbits. With aphelion distances over 300 au, the orbits of these ETNOs extend far beyond the classical Kuiper Belt and an order of magnitude beyond Neptune. As a result, their orbital dynamics can be affected by the proposed new solar system member, referred to as Planet Nine in this work. With perihelion distances of 35–40 au, these orbits are also influenced by resonant interactions with Neptune.A full assessment of any possible new solar system planets must thus take into account this emerging class of TNOs.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Dynamical Analysis of Three Distant Trans-Neptunian Objects with Similar Orbits |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.3847/1538-3881/aaeb2a |
| Publisher version: | http://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/aaeb2a |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the version of record. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Kuiper belt objects: individual (2016 QV89, 2016 QU89, 2013 UH15) |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Physics and Astronomy |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10064018 |
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