Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Unusual Minor Planet 2012 HD2

The unusual minor planet 2012 HD2 was discovered on 2012, April 18 by J. V. Scotti with the 0.9-m f/3 reflector + CCD at Steward Observatory on Kitt Peak (see M.P.E.C. 2012-H32). according to the latest orbital solution available, this object moves along a comet-like orbit with an Inclination of 146.9 deg,  Eccentricity = 0.96, Perihelion distance = 2.55 AU and Period = 668 years.

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object, while it was still on the neocp, remotely from the Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South on 2012, Apr. 19.4, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD.  No cometary features are visible in our images, the object has the same aspect of the nearby field stars of similar brightness (FWHM= 1.2").

Our confirmation image (click on it for a bigger version):



Below you can see an animation showing the movement of 2012 HD2. Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version:



by Ernesto Guido, Oliver Tunnah, Giovanni Sostero and Nick Howes

2 comments:

Robert T. said...

What is an eccentricity measurement? What is it's purpose?

Thanks

Team said...

Dear Robert

Eccentricity is one of the orbital elements required to uniquely identify a specific orbit. The orbital eccentricity of an astronomical body is the amount by which its orbit deviates from a perfect circle, where 0 is perfectly circular, and 1.0 is a parabol. Eccentricity defines the shape of the orbit.

Here you can find more info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_eccentricity

Ciao,
Ernesto