(300163) 2006 VW139

(300163) 2006 VW139
288P/2006 VW139
Time-lapse video of 2006 VW139
Discovery[1][2]
Discovered bySpacewatch
Discovery siteKitt Peak National Obs.
Discovery date15 November 2006
Designations
(300163) 2006 VW139
2006 VW139 · 288P[1]
P/2006 VW139[3]
main-belt[1][2] · (outer)[4]
main-belt comet[3][5]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc16.31 yr (5,958 days)
Aphelion3.6619 AU
Perihelion2.4358 AU
3.0488 AU
Eccentricity0.2011
5.32 yr (1,944 days)
55.529°
0° 11m 6.36s / day
Inclination3.2402°
83.187°
281.00°
Known satellites1[5][6]
Physical characteristics
Dimensions1.8±0.2 km (derived)[6]
3.20 km (calculated)[4]
Mass(6.15±4.85)×1012 kg[6][a]
0.057 (assumed)[4]
C (assumed)[4]
16.2[1][4] · 16.20±0.24[7]

(300163) 2006 VW139 (provisional designation 2006 VW139, periodic comet designation 288P/2006 VW139) is a binary active asteroid and main-belt comet from the outer regions of the asteroid belt. The object was discovered by Spacewatch in 2006. Its binary nature was confirmed by the Hubble Space Telescope in September 2016.[5] Both primary and its minor-planet moon are similar in mass and size, making it a true binary system.[5] The components are estimated to measure 1.8 kilometers in diameter, orbiting each other at a wide separation of 104 kilometers every 135 days.[4][6][8]

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  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference MPC-object was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Hsieh-2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference lcdb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference Agarwal-2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference johnstonsarchive was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Veres-2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference NASA-news-hubble was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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