(528219) 2008 KV42
The orbit of 2008 KV42 is nearly perpendicular to the ecliptic | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Mauna Kea Obs. |
| Discovery site | Mauna Kea Obs. |
| Discovery date | 31 May 2008 |
| Designations | |
| (528219) 2008 KV42 | |
| 2008 KV42 · Drac | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch 1 July 2021 (JD 2459396.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 3 · 1 | |
| Observation arc | 12.20 yr (4,456 d) |
| Aphelion | 62.917 AU |
| Perihelion | 21.152 AU |
| 42.035 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.4968 |
| 272.53 yr (99,543 d) | |
| 341.23° | |
| 0° 0m 12.96s / day | |
| Inclination | 103.41° |
| 260.91° | |
| 132.61° | |
| Uranus MOID | 4.26 AU |
| TJupiter | -1.0210 |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 77 km (est. at 0.09) | |
| 22.89 | |
| 8.8 | |
(528219) 2008 KV42 (provisional designation 2008 KV42; nicknamed Drac) is a trans-Neptunian object and the first one with a retrograde orbit to be discovered. This retrograde motion with an orbital inclination of 103° suggests that it is the missing link between its source in the Hills cloud and Halley-type comets, thus providing further insight into the evolution of the outer Solar System. The object measures approximately 77 kilometers (48 miles) in diameter. With a semi-major axis of 42 AU, it takes about 269 years to complete an orbit around the Sun.
2008 KV42 was discovered by astronomers at Mauna Kea Observatory on 31 May 2008. The discovery team nicknamed 2008 KV42 "Drac" after Count Dracula.