Astronomy:148780 Altjira

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(148780) Altjira
148780-altjira-hubble.jpg
Altjira and its companion imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2006
Discovery
Discovery siteDeep Ecliptic Survey at Kitt Peak[1]
Discovery date20 October 2001
August 2006 (secondary)[2]
Designations
(148780) Altjira
Pronunciation/ælˈɪrə/
2001 UQ18
Minor planet categoryCubewano (DES)[3]
AdjectivesAltjirian
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5)
Uncertainty parameter 3
Observation arc2539 days (6.95 yr)
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}46.877 astronomical unit|AU (7.0127 Tm)
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}41.572 AU (6.2191 Tm)
44.224 AU (6.6158 Tm)
Eccentricity0.059979
Orbital period294.10 yr (107421 d)
Mean anomaly124.29°
Mean motion0.0033513°/day
Inclination5.2056°
Longitude of ascending node2.0132°
297.71°
Known satellites1
Physical characteristics
Dimensions≈128–200 (primary)[4] and 100–180 km (secondary)
Mass3.952×1018 kg[4]
Mean density0.5–2.0 g/cm3[4]
Geometric albedo0.06–0.14[4]
Absolute magnitude (H)5.7[1] 5.6,[5] 5.4,[2] or 5.1[2] (primary)
secondary's magnitude difference with primary's: 0.7 ± 0.2[2]


148780 Altjira /ælˈɪrə/ is a binary classical Kuiper belt object (cubewano).[2] The secondary, S/2007 (148780) 1, is large compared to the primary, 140 kilometres (87 mi) vs. 160 kilometres (99 mi).[4] The Altjiran lightcurve is quite flat (Δmag<0.10), which is indicative of a "quasi-spherical body with a homogeneous surface".[5]

The satellite's orbit has the following parameters: semi-major-axis, 9904 ± 56 km; period, 139.561 ± 0.047 days; eccentricity, 0.3445 ± 0.0045; and inclination, 35.19 ± 0.19°(retrograde). The total system mass is about 4 × 1018 kg.[4]

It was named after the Arrernte creation deity, Altjira, who created the Earth during the Dreamtime and then retired to the sky.[1]

References

External links