2007 JJ43
Encyclopedia
is a trans-Neptunian object
(TNO) orbiting the Sun
near the outer edge of the Kuiper belt
. Based on how bright it appears in telescopes, it is thought likely to be a plutoid (a dwarf planet
), but is not yet formally recognized as such by the International Astronomical Union
.
Its discovery images were taken in 2007. Its absolute magnitude
of 3.7 is one of the twenty brightest exhibited by TNOs. Assuming it has a typical albedo
, this would make it roughly the same size as 28978 Ixion
(~650–800 km diameter). However, Johnston's Archive placed it at about 1000 km in diameter in 2010; slightly larger than 1 Ceres
(~950 km diameter).
2007 JJ43 is about 48 AU
away from the Sun in 2010, ranging from 40 to 56 AU over its expected orbit.
Trans-Neptunian object
A trans-Neptunian object is any minor planet in the Solar System that orbits the Sun at a greater distance on average than Neptune.The first trans-Neptunian object to be discovered was Pluto in 1930...
(TNO) orbiting the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
near the outer edge of the Kuiper belt
Kuiper belt
The Kuiper belt , sometimes called the Edgeworth–Kuiper belt, is a region of the Solar System beyond the planets extending from the orbit of Neptune to approximately 50 AU from the Sun. It is similar to the asteroid belt, although it is far larger—20 times as wide and 20 to 200 times as massive...
. Based on how bright it appears in telescopes, it is thought likely to be a plutoid (a dwarf planet
Dwarf planet
A dwarf planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union , is a celestial body orbiting the Sun that is massive enough to be spherical as a result of its own gravity but has not cleared its neighboring region of planetesimals and is not a satellite...
), but is not yet formally recognized as such by the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
.
Its discovery images were taken in 2007. Its absolute magnitude
Absolute magnitude
Absolute magnitude is the measure of a celestial object's intrinsic brightness. it is also the apparent magnitude a star would have if it were 32.6 light years away from Earth...
of 3.7 is one of the twenty brightest exhibited by TNOs. Assuming it has a typical albedo
Albedo
Albedo , or reflection coefficient, is the diffuse reflectivity or reflecting power of a surface. It is defined as the ratio of reflected radiation from the surface to incident radiation upon it...
, this would make it roughly the same size as 28978 Ixion
28978 Ixion
28978 Ixion is a Kuiper belt object discovered on May 22, 2001. Ixion is a plutino and a very likely dwarf planet; its diameter of 650 km estimated by Spitzer makes it about the fifth largest plutino. It is named after Ixion, a figure from Greek mythology...
(~650–800 km diameter). However, Johnston's Archive placed it at about 1000 km in diameter in 2010; slightly larger than 1 Ceres
1 Ceres
Ceres, formally 1 Ceres, is the smallest identified dwarf planet in the Solar System and the only one in the asteroid belt. With a diameter of about 950 km, Ceres is by far the largest and most-massive asteroid, comprising about a third of the mass of the asteroid belt. Discovered on 1 January 1801...
(~950 km diameter).
2007 JJ43 is about 48 AU
Astronomical unit
An astronomical unit is a unit of length equal to about or approximately the mean Earth–Sun distance....
away from the Sun in 2010, ranging from 40 to 56 AU over its expected orbit.