Size, Shape, Rotation, and Color of the Outer Solar System Object 1999 TD10

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

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The outer Solar System object 1999 TD10 is unusual in that it has a perihelion distance similar to Centaurs, 12 AU, but a semi-major axis similar to scattered disk objects, 190 AU. We obtained CCD images of 1999 TD10 using the University of Arizona 2.3-m telescope on Kitt Peak, Arizona on 1999 November 8 and 9 UT and the Vatican Observatory VATT 1.8-m telescope on Mt. Graham, Arizona on 1999 November 11 and 12 UT. All images were obtained through B, V, and R glass filters on photometric nights. We find 1999 TD10 exhibits large variations in brightness. It has a lightcurve with an average V magnitude of 20.20, an amplitude of 0.68 magnitudes, which can be fit with a period of 5.8 hr. We find an absolute magnitude, H, of 9.07. If we assume an albedo of 0.04, then 1999 TD10 has a mean diameter of 100 km. If the variation in brightness is due to the rotation of an object with an irregular shape, then the ratio of a/b is 1.88, giving the object dimensions of 130 x 70 km. Such an irregular shape for such a large object would be unusual for a main belt asteroid; however, the largest Trojan, 624 Hektor, may be larger and even more irregular in shape, and the largest irregular moon (Hyperion) has a similar a/b with much larger dimensions (410 x 260 x 220 km). We find a B-V color of 0.77 +/- 0.02 and a V-R color of 0.47 +/- 0.01. Such colors place 1999 TD10 in the "gray" population of centaurs and KBOs, comparable to the Trojans.

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