2006 QH181
Encyclopedia
, also written as 2006 QH181, is a trans-Neptunian object
. It is very likely a dwarf planet
. It is part of the scattered disc
. It may be a detached object
since a perihelion
of 37.6 AU
may place it outside of the direct influence of Neptune
, or it could have a 5:1 resonance
with Neptune. Further observations of the orbit will be required.
in (AU
)!!APmag
|-
|Eris
||97||18.7
|-
|Sedna
||88||21.0
|-
|||86||21.4
|-
|||82||23.0
|}
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...
. It is very likely a dwarf planet
Dwarf planet
A dwarf planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union , is a celestial body orbiting the Sun that is massive enough to be spherical as a result of its own gravity but has not cleared its neighboring region of planetesimals and is not a satellite...
. It is part of the scattered disc
Scattered disc
The scattered disc is a distant region of the Solar System that is sparsely populated by icy minor planets, a subset of the broader family of trans-Neptunian objects. The scattered-disc objects have orbital eccentricities ranging as high as 0.8, inclinations as high as 40°, and perihelia greater...
. It may be a detached object
Detached object (astronomy)
Detached objects are a dynamical class of bodies in the outer Solar System beyond the orbit of Neptune. These objects have orbits whose points of closest approach to the Sun are sufficiently distant from the gravitational influence of Neptune that they are essentially unaffected by Neptune and the...
since a perihelion
Apsis
An apsis , plural apsides , is the point of greatest or least distance of a body from one of the foci of its elliptical orbit. In modern celestial mechanics this focus is also the center of attraction, which is usually the center of mass of the system...
of 37.6 AU
Astronomical unit
An astronomical unit is a unit of length equal to about or approximately the mean Earth–Sun distance....
may place it outside of the direct influence of 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...
, or it could have a 5:1 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. Further observations of the orbit will be required.
in (AU
Astronomical unit
An astronomical unit is a unit of length equal to about or approximately the mean Earth–Sun distance....
)!!APmag
Apparent magnitude
The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...
|-
|Eris
Eris (dwarf planet)
Eris, formal designation 136199 Eris, is the most massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the ninth most massive body known to orbit the Sun directly...
||97||18.7
|-
|Sedna
90377 Sedna
90377 Sedna is a trans-Neptunian object discovered in 2003, which was about three times as far from the Sun as Neptune. For most of its orbit it is even further from the Sun, with its aphelion estimated at 960 astronomical units , making it one of the most distant known objects in the Solar System...
||88||21.0
|-
|||86||21.4
|-
|||82||23.0
|}
Distance
It came to perihelionApsis
An apsis , plural apsides , is the point of greatest or least distance of a body from one of the foci of its elliptical orbit. In modern celestial mechanics this focus is also the center of attraction, which is usually the center of mass of the system...
around 1859. It is currently 82 AU from the Sun. The only dwarf-planet-type bodies currently further from the Sun are Eris
Eris (dwarf planet)
Eris, formal designation 136199 Eris, is the most massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the ninth most massive body known to orbit the Sun directly...
(96.7AU), Sedna
90377 Sedna
90377 Sedna is a trans-Neptunian object discovered in 2003, which was about three times as far from the Sun as Neptune. For most of its orbit it is even further from the Sun, with its aphelion estimated at 960 astronomical units , making it one of the most distant known objects in the Solar System...
(88AU), and (86AU). Being so far from the Sun, it only has an apparent magnitude
Apparent magnitude
The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...
of 23.
Orbit
It has been observed 10 times over only 2 oppositions and thus currently has a poorly known orbit. JPL ranks orbital quality from 0 to 9 (0 being best), and 2006 QH181 is currently listed with a poor orbital quality of 8. If the quality of the known orbit were any worse, the uncertainty parameter U would be listed as E for "eccentricity was assumed".External links
- Orbital simulation from JPL (Java) / Horizons Ephemeris
See also
- List of Solar System objects by size