(65407) 2002 RP120

Infobox Planet | discovery=yes | physical_characteristics = yes | bgcolour=#FFFFC0
name=mp|(65407) 2002 RP|120
discoverer=Brian A. Skiff/LONEOS
discovered=September 4 2002
alt_names="none"
mp_category=Damocloid asteroid,
Scattered disk object
orbit_ref =cite web |title =JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 65407 (2002 RP120)|url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2002RP120 |accessdate=2008-02-06]
epoch=April 10 2007 (JD 2454200.5)
semimajor=8368.303 Gm (54.590 AU) (a)
perihelion=369.948 Gm
(2.466 AU) (q)
aphelion=16366.658 Gm (106.71 AU) (Q)
eccentricity=0.9548
period=147,324.96 d (403.35 a)
inclination=119.10°
asc_node=39.212°
arg_peri=357.86°
mean_anomaly=4.024°
avg_speed=3.98 km/s
dimensions=14.6 km
mass=3.1×10¹⁵ kg
density=2 ? g/cm³
surface_grav=0.0040 m/s²
escape_velocity=0.0076 km/s
rotation=200 h (8.33 d)
spectral_type=?
abs_magnitude=12.113
albedo=0.098
single_temperature=~37 K

mp|(65407) 2002 RP|120 (also written (65407) 2002 RP120) holds the dubious distinction of being the most eccentric of the numbered asteroids (as of July 2004). It is also a member of the very exclusive group of retrograde asteroids, which has only two numbered members (the other one is 20461 Dioretsa). Its classification is uncertain, as it is at once a Damocloid (a highly eccentric, highly inclined object likely to be an extinct comet) and a scattered disk object (a Trans-Neptunian object with a very eccentric orbit, likely ejected from the ecliptic by Neptune).

References

External links

* [http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=65407;orb=1 Orbital simulation] from JPL (Java) / [http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi?find_body=1&body_group=sb&sstr=65407 Horizons Ephemeris]