(471325) 2011 KT19

(471325) 2011 KT19
Discovery[1]
Discovered byMount Lemmon Srvy.
List
Discovery siteMount Lemmon Obs.
Discovery date31 May 2011
Designations
Pronunciation/ˈniːkuː/
Named after
A Chinese adjective meaning "rebellious" [2]
Niku
TNO[3] · centaur[4]
damocloid
Orbital characteristics[3]
Epoch JD 2457600.5
Uncertainty parameter 2
Observation arc1779 days (4.87 yr)
Aphelion47.427 AU
Perihelion23.7805 AU
35.604 AU
Eccentricity0.33208
212.45 years
29.487°
Inclination110.1537°
243.77772°
322.174°
TJupiter−1.552
Physical characteristics
75–250 km[5]
161 km[4]
22[6]
7.2[5][3]

(471325) 2011 KT19, nicknamed Niku (/niːkuː/), is a trans-Neptunian object whose orbit is tilted 110° with respect to the planets' orbital plane. Thus, it has a nearly polar retrograde orbit around the Sun.[2][7][8][9]

While the object has not received a formal name, it received the moniker "Niku" (逆骨), meaning "rebellious" in the Chinese language, by its discoverers.[10][11]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference MPEC2011-L09 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "Mystery object in weird orbit beyond Neptune cannot be explained". New Scientist. 10 August 2016. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference jplorbit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference johnstonsarchive-TNO-list was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b "IAU Minor Planet Center - 2011 KT19". Minor Planet Center. IAU. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  6. ^ "AstDyS (471325) 2011KT19 Ephemerides". Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  7. ^ Chen, Ying-Tung; Lin, Hsing Wen; Holman, Matthew J; Payne, Matthew J; et al. (5 August 2016). "Discovery of A New Retrograde Trans-Neptunian Object: Hint of A Common Orbital Plane for Low Semi-Major Axis, High Inclination TNOs and Centaurs". The Astrophysical Journal. 827 (2): L24. arXiv:1608.01808. Bibcode:2016ApJ...827L..24C. doi:10.3847/2041-8205/827/2/L24. S2CID 4975180.
  8. ^ Charles Q. Choi (2016-10-24). "What's Up with 'Niku'? Object's Weird Orbit Puzzles Scientists". Space.com. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  9. ^ "What Makes the Solar System Like a Crime Scene? - Science Friday". 19 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  10. ^ Grossman, David (11 August 2016). "Meet Niku, the Weird Object Beyond Neptune That Nobody Can Figure Out". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  11. ^ Choi, Charles Q. (24 October 2016). "What's Up with 'Niku'? Object's Weird Orbit Puzzles Scientists". Space.com. Retrieved 21 December 2021.