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2012 GX17
Discovery
Discovered by Pan-STARRS 1
Discovery date14 April 2012
Designations
2012 GX17
Orbital characteristics
Epoch 31 May 2020 ( JD 2459000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 1
Observation arc2930 days (8.02 yr)
Aphelion57.826 AU (8.6506 Tm)
Perihelion16.9434206 AU (2.53469964 Tm)
37.3849220 AU (5.59270473 Tm)
Eccentricity0.5467846
228.59  yr (83491.6  d)
49.28874 °
0° 0m 15.523s / day
Inclination32.53975°
209.23931°
243.62742°
Earth  MOID16.0869 AU (2.40657 Tm)
Jupiter  MOID12.6178 AU (1.88760 Tm)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions60–200 km
0.5–0.05 (assumed)
7.6

2012 GX17, also written as 2012 GX17, is a minor body classified as Centaur and Trans-Neptunian object by the Minor Planet Center. [1] The object was once considered a promising Neptune L5 trojan candidate. [2]

Discovery

2012 GX17 was discovered on 14 April 2012 by the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope, observing from Haleakala, Hawaii. [1]

Orbit

2012 GX17 follows a rather eccentric orbit (0.55) with a semi-major axis of 37.4 AU. [3] This object also has high orbital inclination (32.5º). [3]

Physical properties

2012 GX17 is a rather large minor body with an absolute magnitude of 7.6 which gives a characteristic diameter of 60–200 km for an assumed albedo in the range 0.5–0.05.

Former Neptune trojan candidate

Initially, 2012 GX17 was considered to be a promising Neptune trojan candidate, [2] based on a very preliminary determination of 30.13 AU for its semi-major axis. However, the true value is much larger (37.4 AU) and it is now classified as a Trans-Neptunian object.

References

  1. ^ a b "MPC List of Centaurs". Minor Planet Center. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b de la Fuente Marcos, C.; de la Fuente Marcos, R. (November 2012). "Four temporary Neptune co-orbitals: (148975) 2001 XA255, (310071) 2010 KR59, (316179) 2010 EN65, and 2012 GX17". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 547: L2. arXiv: 1210.3466. Bibcode: 2012A&A...547L...2D. doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/201220377. S2CID  118622987.
  3. ^ a b "MPC data on 2012 GX17". Minor Planet Center. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 22 February 2016.

External links