The scattered trans-Neptunian object 1998 XY95 |
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| Authors: | SJ Collander-Brown A Fitzsimmons E Fletcher MJ Irwin IP Williams |
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| Institution: | ;1Department of Pure and Applied Physics, Queens University, Belfast BT7 1NN;2Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge University, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA;3Astronomy Unit, Queen Mary and Westfield College, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS |
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| Abstract: | On 1998 December 12 a new trans-Neptunian object, 1998 XY95, was discovered as part of a deep search. Recent observations of this object have placed it amongst the class of objects known as the scattered trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs). A total of 39 CCD images of 1998 XY95 were taken over two nights, and these were used to search for a light curve, but no significant periodicity was found. An examination of the possible orbital evolution gives no indication of how it may have arrived on its present orbit. The current best-fitting orbit is unstable, but remains within a band of semi-major axis approximately 2 au wide. The bottom of this band is due to 3:1 mean motion resonance with Neptune, while the reason for the top of the band remains unclear. |
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| Keywords: | methods: numerical techniques: photometric celestial mechanics comets: general |
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