(444030) 2004 NT33

(444030) 2004 NT33 is a classical trans-Neptunian object and possible dwarf planet of the Kuiper belt in the outermost region of the Solar System, approximately 450 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 13 July 2004, by astronomers at Palomar Observatory, California, United States.[8]

(444030) 2004 NT33
Discovery [1]
Discovered byPalomar team
Discovery sitePalomar Obs.
Discovery date13 July 2004
Designations
(444030) 2004 NT33
2004 NT33
TNO [1] · cubewano [2]
Extended[3]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 3
Observation arc33.99 yr (12,415 days)
Earliest precovery date10 August 1982
Aphelion50.014 AU
Perihelion36.838 AU
43.426 AU
Eccentricity0.1517
286.18 yr (104,527 days)
41.709°
0° 0m 12.24s / day
Inclination31.231°
240.87°
37.400°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions423+87
−80 km[4]
482.53 km (calculated)[5]
513 km (estimated)[6]
7.87±0.05 h[2]
0.08[6]
0.10 (assumed)[5]
0.125[4]
C [5]
20.94[7]
4.4[2] · 4.7[1][5] · 4.9[6]

    Orbit and classification

    2004 NT33 is a "cubewano", a classical, low-eccentricity object in the Kuiper belt, that orbits the Sun at a distance of 36.8–50.0 AU once every 286 years and 2 months (104,527 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.15 and an inclination of 31° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] It is currently 39 AU from the Sun.[7]

    A first precovery was taken at the Siding Spring Observatory in 1982, extending the body's observation arc by 22 years prior to its official discovery observation at Palomar.[8]

    Physical characteristics

    Rotation period

    In 2009, astronomers obtained a rotational lightcurve of 2004 NT33 from photometric observations, which were taken at the Galileo National Telescope (TNG) on the island of La Palma, and at the Sierra Nevada Observatory in Granada, both located in Spain. The ambiguous lightcurve gave a rotation period of 7.87 hours with a low brightness amplitude of 0.04 magnitude (U=1).[2]

    Diameter and albedo

    According to the "TNOs are Cool" survey, using observations from the space-based Herschel and Spitzer telescopes, 2004 NT33 measures 423 kilometers in diameter and its surface has a visual geometric albedo of 0.125,[4] while the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.10 and calculates a diameter of 482.53 kilometers with on an absolute magnitude of 4.7.[5] Michael Brown estimates a larger diameter of 513 kilometers, based on a geometric albedo of 0.08 and an absolute magnitude of 4.9, which makes it a "highly likely dwarf planet" according to his assessment.[6]

    Naming

    As of 2017, this minor planet remains unnamed.[8]

    gollark: Idea: brute-force golf programs.
    gollark: Wait, first-class *rational* numbers?
    gollark: Otherwise do you mean nullary?
    gollark: > nonaryDoes this mean *nine-argument*?
    gollark: There are not presently plans to implement Emu War in potatOS.

    References
    1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 444030 (2004 NT33)" (2016-08-06 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
    2. Thirouin, A.; Ortiz, J. L.; Campo Bagatin, A.; Pravec, P.; Morales, N.; Hainaut, O.; et al. (August 2012). "Short-term variability of 10 trans-Neptunian objects". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 424 (4): 3156–3177. arXiv:1207.2044. Bibcode:2012MNRAS.424.3156T. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.21477.x.
    3. Marc W. Buie. "Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for 444030". SwRI (Space Science Department). Retrieved 2018-02-18.
    4. Vilenius, E.; Kiss, C.; Müller, T.; Mommert, M.; Santos-Sanz, P.; Pál, A.; et al. (April 2014). ""TNOs are Cool": A survey of the trans-Neptunian region. X. Analysis of classical Kuiper belt objects from Herschel and Spitzer observations". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 564: 18. arXiv:1403.6309. Bibcode:2014A&A...564A..35V. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201322416.
    5. "LCDB Data for (444030)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 2 June 2017.
    6. Michael E. Brown. "How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system? (updates daily)". California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
    7. "(444030) 2004 NT33". AstDyS-2 (Asteroids – Dynamic Site). Retrieved 2 June 2017.
    8. "444030 (2004 NT33)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
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