2007 OR10 likely the third-largest known KBO |
2007 OR10 likely the third-largest known KBO |
Mar 11 2016, 02:52 AM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 723 Joined: 13-June 04 Member No.: 82 |
Large size and slow rotation of the trans-Neptunian object (225088) 2007 OR10 discovered from Herschel and K2 observations
QUOTE We present the first comprehensive thermal and rotational analysis of the second most distant trans-Neptunian object (225088) 2007 OR10. We combined optical light curves provided by the Kepler space telescope -- K2 extended mission and thermal infrared data provided by the Herschel Space Observatory. We found that (225088) 2007 OR10 is likely to be larger and darker than derived by earlier studies: we obtained a diameter of d=1535^{+75}_{-225} km which places (225088) 2007 OR10 in the biggest top three trans-Neptunian objects. The corresponding visual geometric albedo is p_V=0.089^{+0.031}_{-0.009}. The light curve analysis revealed a slow rotation rate of P_rot=44.81+/-0.37 h, superseded by a very few objects only. The most likely light-curve solution is double-peaked with a slight asymmetry, however, we cannot safely rule out the possibility of having a rotation period of P_rot=22.40+/-0.18 h which corresponds to a single-peaked solution. Due to the size and slow rotation, the shape of the object should be a MacLaurin ellipsoid, so the light variation should be caused by surface inhomogeneities. Its newly derived larger diameter also implies larger surface gravity and a more likely retention of volatiles -- CH4, CO and N2 -- on the surface. I think that as it's likely the third-largest known KBO, with a possible atmosphere, this object deserves a thread of its own. Somebody should tell Mike Brown that it's high time that he named this object. As the leader of the discovery team, he's the only one who is allowed to name it under the current system, but he has not bothered to do so for almost a decade. Every other known KBO out there that's even remotely close to it in diameter has long since been officially named. |
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Mar 11 2016, 04:35 AM
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#2
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Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 5172 Joined: 4-August 05 From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth Member No.: 454 |
It's not up to Mike to name it; it's his former student who discovered it, Meg Schwamb. He's as irritated as you are that it doesn't have a name yet. She wants to involve the public but hasn't had the time, being a student and then a postdoc who needed to focus on other things. But she just said that it was her new year's resolution to name it this year, so, hopefully, soon.
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Mar 11 2016, 07:16 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 684 Joined: 24-July 15 Member No.: 7619 |
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Apr 9 2019, 09:41 PM
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#4
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Member Group: Members Posts: 241 Joined: 16-May 06 From: Geneva, Switzerland Member No.: 773 |
2007 OR10, is finally about to be named. The public can vote until May 1st. Gonggong, Holle or Vili ?
I wonder what could be the choice of the name for its moon ! See: https://2007or10.name/index.html?fbclid=IwA...YbjnSJIxw#names Regards, Marc |
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May 29 2019, 10:01 PM
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#5
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Member Group: Members Posts: 437 Joined: 14-December 15 Member No.: 7860 |
2007 OR10, is finally about to be named. The public can vote until May 1st. Gonggong, Holle or Vili ? I wonder what could be the choice of the name for its moon ! See: https://2007or10.name/index.html?fbclid=IwA...YbjnSJIxw#names Regards, Marc Gonggong is the winner |
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Feb 23 2020, 03:26 AM
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#6
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Member Group: Members Posts: 205 Joined: 14-April 06 From: Seattle, WA Member No.: 745 |
Gonggong is now the official name of 225088.
(225088) Gonggong = 2007 OR10 Discovered at Palomar on 2007-07-17 by M. E. Schwamb, M. E. Brown, and D. Rabinowitz. (225088) Gonggong = 2007 OR10 Gonggong is a Chinese water god with red hair and a serpent-like tail. He is known for creating chaos, causing flooding, and tilting the Earth; he is often depicted with the head of a human and the body of a snake. Gonggong is often attended by his minister, Xiangliu, a nine-headed poisonous snake monster for whom the satellite is named. [Ref: Minor Planet Circ. 121135] Minor Planet Center Page |
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