174567 Varda
Trans-Neptunian object / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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174567 Varda (provisional designation 2003 MW12) is a binary trans-Neptunian planetoid of the resonant hot classical population of the Kuiper belt, located in the outermost region of the Solar System.[1] Its moon, Ilmarë, was discovered in 2009.[13]
Discovery[1][2][3] | |
---|---|
Discovered by | J. A. Larsen |
Discovery site | Kitt Peak National Obs. |
Discovery date | 21 June 2003 |
Designations | |
Designation | (174567) Varda |
Pronunciation | /ˈvɑːrdə/ |
Named after | Varda (figure by J. R. R. Tolkien)[2] |
2003 MW12 | |
TNO[1] · cubewano[4] detached[5] · distant[2] | |
Symbol | (astrological) |
Orbital characteristics[1] | |
Epoch 31 May 2020 (JD 2459000.5) | |
Uncertainty parameter 2 | |
Observation arc | 39.12 yr (14,290 d) |
Earliest precovery date | 19 March 1980 |
Aphelion | 52.711 AU |
Perihelion | 39.510 AU |
46.110 AU | |
Eccentricity | 0.14315 |
313.12 yr (114,366 d) | |
275.208° | |
0° 0m 11.332s / day | |
Inclination | 21.511° |
184.151° | |
≈ 1 November 2096[6] ±4 days | |
180.072° | |
Known satellites | 1 (Ilmarë) |
Physical characteristics | |
Mean diameter | 740±14 km (area equivalent)[7] 722+82 −76 km[lower-alpha 1][8] |
Flattening | 0.080±0.049 (for period of 11.82 h)[7] or 0.235±0.050 (for period of 5.91 h)[7] |
Mass | (2.45±0.06)×1020 kg[7][lower-alpha 2] |
Mean density | 1.23±0.04 g/cm3 (for period of 11.82 h)[7] 1.78±0.06 g/cm3 (for period of 5.61 h)[7] |
5.61 h[8] or 5.91 h (single-peaked)[9] 11.82 h (double-peaked)[9] | |
Albedo | 0.099±0.002 (primary)[7] 0.102+0.024 −0.024[10] |
Spectral type | IR (moderately red)[8] B−V=0.886±0.025[8] V–R=0.55±0.02[11] V−I=1.156±0.029[8] |
20.5[12] | |
3.81±0.01 (primary)[7] 3.097±0.060[8] 3.4[1] | |
Astronomer Michael Brown estimates that, with an absolute magnitude of 3.5 and a calculated diameter of approximately 700–800 kilometers (430–500 miles),[14][15] it is likely a dwarf planet.[16] However, William M. Grundy et al. argue that objects in the size range of 400–1000 km, with albedos less than ≈0.2 and densities of ≈1.2 g/cm3 or less, have likely never compressed into fully solid bodies, let alone differentiated, and so are highly unlikely to be dwarf planets.[17] It is not clear if Varda has a low or a high density.