, also written as 2003 UZ413, is a trans-Neptunian object

Trans-Neptunian object

A trans-Neptunian object is any minor planet in the Solar System that orbits the Sun at a greater distance on average than Neptune.The first trans-Neptunian object to be discovered was Pluto in 1930...

 (TNO) with an absolute magnitude

Absolute magnitude

Absolute magnitude is the measure of a celestial object's intrinsic brightness. it is also the apparent magnitude a star would have if it were 32.6 light years away from Earth...

 of 4.4. A 2:3 orbital resonance

Resonant trans-Neptunian object

In astronomy, a resonant trans-Neptunian object is a trans-Neptunian object in mean motion orbital resonance with Neptune. The orbital periods of the resonant objects are in a simple integer relations with the period of Neptune e.g. 1:2, 2:3 etc...

 with Neptune

Neptune

Neptune is the eighth and farthest planet from the Sun in the Solar System. Named for the Roman god of the sea, it is the fourth-largest planet by diameter and the third largest by mass. Neptune is 17 times the mass of Earth and is slightly more massive than its near-twin Uranus, which is 15 times...

 makes it a plutino

Plutino

In astronomy, a plutino is a trans-Neptunian object in 2:3 mean motion resonance with Neptune. For every 2 orbits that a plutino makes, Neptune orbits 3 times. Plutinos are named after Pluto, which follows an orbit trapped in the same resonance, with the Italian diminutive suffix -ino...

. It is large enough to be a plutoid candidate.

It has been observed 30 times over 10 oppositions with precovery

Precovery

Precovery is a term used in astronomy that describes the process of finding the image of an object in old archived images or photographic plates, for the purpose of calculating a more accurate orbit...

 images back to 1954.

Orbit and rotation

2003 UZ413 is locked in 2:3 resonance with Neptune, which means that when it makes two revolutions around the Sun, Neptune makes exactly three.

The object has a very fast rotation. In fact, with a period of about 4.1 hours it is the fastest rotator in the Kuiper belt

Kuiper belt

The Kuiper belt , sometimes called the Edgeworth–Kuiper belt, is a region of the Solar System beyond the planets extending from the orbit of Neptune to approximately 50 AU from the Sun. It is similar to the asteroid belt, although it is far larger—20 times as wide and 20 to 200 times as massive...

 after Haumea.

Physical characteristics

The size of 2003 UZ413 is not known but a reasonable estimate is around 600 km. In the visible light this object is neutral or slightly red in color and has a flat featureless reflectance spectrum.

External links

• Orbital simulation from JPL (Java) / Horizons Ephemeris
• 2003 UZ413 Precovery Images