1996 PW

1996 PW
Discovery images of 1996 PW from NEAT-GEODSS in August 1996
Discovery
Discovered byNEAT
Discovery siteHaleakala Obs.
Discovery date9 August 1996
Designations
1996 PW
TNO · damocloid
distant · unusual
Orbital characteristics
Epoch 21 November 2025 (JD 2461000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 2
Observation arc1.43 yr (524 d)
Aphelion541.93 AU
Perihelion2.5698 AU
272.25 AU
Eccentricity0.9906
4492 yr (1,640,761 d)
2.3480°
0° 0m 0.72s / day
Inclination29.691°
144.61°
181.88°
TJupiter1.742
Physical characteristics
km
8 km (est. at 0.15)
15 km (est. at 0.04)
35.44 h
Ld (SMASS)
D
B–R = 0.56±0.04
V–I = 1.03±0.06
V–J = 1.80±0.05
V–H = 2.19±0.05
V–K = 2.32±0.05
13.9

1996 PW is an exceptionally eccentric trans-Neptunian object and damocloid on an orbit typical of long-period comets but one that showed no sign of cometary activity around the time it was discovered. The unusual object measures approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) in diameter and has a rotation period of 35.4 hours and likely an elongated shape.