2011 KW48

Large Kuiper belt object observed by New Horizons February 2018 yes 2011 KW 48 #C2E0FF New Horizons KBO Search 266 Subaru Telescope 29 May 2011(discovery: first observed only) 2011 KW 48 VNH0004 TNOinner classicdistant 8 June 2011 (JD 2455720.5) n.a. 34 days 42.676 AU 32.368 AU 37.522 AU 0.1374 229.84 yr (83,950 days) 347.91° 0.0043 ms / day 3.6328° 246.15° 46.931° 77 km 0.09 (estimate) 8.8 2011 KW 48 is a trans-Neptunian object from the inner classical part of the Kuiper belt, located in the outermost region of the Solar System. It measures approximately 77 km mi us in diameter. The object was first observed on 29 May 2011, during the New Horizons KBO Search 266 conducted by astronomers using the Subaru Telescope at the Mauna Kea Observatory on Hawaii, United States. It was later observed by the New Horizons space probe from afar in January 2015. Orbit and classification 2011 KW 48 orbits the Sun at a distance of 32.4–42.7 AU once every 229 years and 10 months (83,950 days; semi-major axis of 37.5 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.14 and an inclination of 3.6° with respect to the ecliptic. This object was observed 12 times by the Mauna Kea (8) and Las Campanas (4) observatories over a period of about 33.8 days between 29 May and 2 July 2011. Because of this short period of observation, its current orbit is extremely uncertain. New Horizons thumb|left|Trajectory of New Horizons and other nearby Kuiper belt objects Between 4–15 January 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft actively observed this object – then temporarily designated VNH0004 – at a distance of about 0.5 AU e6km+e6mi unit. While this was too far to resolve surface features or perform spectroscopic analyses of its composition, the spacecraft was able to search for possible satellites and observe its phase curve. Physical characteristics Based on an absolute magnitude of 8.8, and an assumed albedo of 0.09, Johnston's Archive estimates a mean diameter of approximately 77 km mi us. As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of 2011 KW 48 has been obtained from photometric observations. The object's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown. Numbering and naming As of 2025, this minor planet has not been numbered or named. See also List of New Horizons topics References 30em 2011-07-02 last obs. JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2011 KW48) https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=3673746 Jet Propulsion Laboratory 7 February 2018 2011 KW48 Minor Planet Center https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=2011+KW48 7 February 2018 List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects Johnston's Archive 30 December 2017 Johnston Wm. Robert http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/astro/tnoslist.html 7 February 2018 Chris Gebhardt New Horizons begins Pluto observations ahead of July flyby 19 January 2015 NASASpaceFlight.com https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/01/new-horizons-pluto-observations-july-flyby/ 7 February 2018 Christopher Paul New Horizons to Encounter KBO Ahead of Pluto Flyby 31 August 2012 AmericaSpace http://www.americaspace.com/2012/08/31/new-horizons-to-encounter-kbo-ahead-of-pluto-flyby/ 7 February 2018 2011 KW48 7 February 2018 External links Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for VNH0004, Southwest Research Institute, 25 October 2014 List of Transneptunian Objects, Minor Planet Center Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info https://web.archive.org/web/20171216050541/http://www.minorplanet.info/lightcurvedatabase.html 16 December 2017 ) # Category:Minor planet object articles (unnumbered) # 20110529