(65407) 2002 RP120

Template:Mp (provisional designation Template:Mp) is a trans-Neptunian object and damocloid from the outer Solar System. Its orbit is retrograde and comet-like, and has a high eccentricity. It was discovered on 4 September 2002 by astronomers with the LONEOS survey at Anderson Mesa Station, Arizona, in the United States. The unusual object measures approximately Template:Convert in diameter and is likely elongated in shape. It is a slow rotator and potentially a tumbler as well.<ref name="lcdb" /> The object was probably ejected from the ecliptic by Neptune.Template:Citation needed

Orbit and classification

Template:Mp is a member of the damocloids,<ref name="johnstonsarchive-TNO-list" /> with a retrograde orbit and a negative T_Jupiter of −0.8340. It is also a trans-Neptunian object, as its orbit has a semi-major axis larger than that of Neptune (30.1 AU).<ref name="jpldata" /> The Minor Planet Center lists it as a critical object, centaur, and (other) unusual minor planet due to an orbital eccentricity of more than 0.5.<ref name="MPC-Unusual-list" />

It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.5–105 AU once every 396 years (semi-major axis of 53.92 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.95 and an inclination of 119° with respect to the ecliptic.<ref name="jpldata" /> The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken by Astrovirtel Template:Obscode at ESO's La Silla Observatory in February 2001, or 19 months prior to its official discovery observation at Anderson Mesa.<ref name="MPC-object" />

Numbering and naming

This minor planet was permanently numbered Template:LoMP by the Minor Planet Center on 14 June 2003 (Template:Small).<ref name="MPC-Circulars-Archive" /> As of 2018, it has not been named.<ref name="MPC-object" />

Physical characteristics

The object has a B–R magnitude of 1.37,<ref name="johnstonsarchive-TNO-list" /> typical for most dynamical groups in the outer Solar System.

Rotation period

In October 2010, a rotational lightcurve of Template:Mp was obtained from photometric observations by French amateur astronomer René Roy . Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 200 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.6 magnitude, indicative of an elongated, non-spherical shape (Template:Small).<ref name="geneva-obs" /> With a rotation period above 100 hours, it is a typical slow rotator.

Diameter and albedo

According to the survey of minor-planet albedos of bodies in a comet-like orbit, carried out by Yanga Fernández in collaboration with David Jewitt and Scott Sheppard at the Institute for Astronomy, Hawaii, Template:Mp measures 14.6 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.098.<ref name="jpldata" /><ref name="Fernandez-2005a" /> Johnston's archive gives a rounded figure of 15 kilometers.<ref name="johnstonsarchive-TNO-list" />

External links

• List Of Centaurs and Scattered-Disk Objects, Minor Planet Center
• (65407) 2002 RP120, Small Bodies Data Ferret
• Template:AstDys
• Template:JPL small body