Monday, February 27, 2012

Trans-Neptunian Object 2012 DR30

M.P.E.C. 2012-D67, issued on 2012, February 26, announces the discovery of a new Trans-Neptunian Object (discovery magnitude 18.7) by R. H. McNaught with 0.5-m Uppsala Schmidt + CCD at Siding Spring on February 22, 2012. The new object has been designated 2012 DR30.

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object, while it was still on the neocp. Stacking of six R-filtered exposures, 60-sec each, obtained remotely, from the Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South on 2012, Feb. 23.5, through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD, shows that the object has stellar aspect.

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



M.P.E.C. 2012-D67 assignes the following preliminary orbital elements to 2012 DR30:  H= 7.2; e= 0.91; a= 160.45; Peri.= 203.99; q= 14.43 AU; Incl.= 76.04

by Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero & Nick Howes

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