2005 VX3
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Mt. Lemmon Survey |
| Discovery date | 2005-11-01 |
| Designations | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 4 | |
| Observation arc | 81 days |
| Aphelion | 3080 ±643 AU (heliocentric) ~2049 AU (barycentric) |
| Perihelion | 4.1316 AU (618.08 Gm) |
| 1542 ±322 AU (heliocentric) ~1026 AU (barycentric) |
|
| Eccentricity | 0.99745 |
| 60556 ±18970 a ~32900 yr |
|
| 0.055248° | |
| Inclination | 112.389° |
| 255.245° | |
| 196.550° | |
| Earth MOID | 3.1754 AU (475.03 Gm) |
| Jupiter MOID | .853052 AU (127.6148 Gm) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 7 km (assumed) |
| 28 | |
| 14.1 | |
2005 VX3 is the minor planet with the 3rd largest known heliocentric semi-major axis and aphelion. Additionally its perihelion lies within the orbit of Jupiter, which means it also has the largest orbital eccentricity of any known minor planet. 2005 VX3 has a barycentric semi-major axis of ~1026 AU.2014 FE72 and 2012 DR30 have a larger barycentric semi-major axis. The epoch of January 2016 was when 2005 VX3 had its largest heliocentric semi-major axis.
2005 VX3 has a short observation arc of 81 days and does not have a well constrained orbit. It has not been observed since January 2006, when it came to perihelion, 4.1 AU from the Sun. It may be a dormant comet that has not been seen outgassing. In the past it may have made closer approaches to the Sun that could have removed most near-surface volatiles. The current orbit crosses the ecliptic just inside Jupiter's orbit and has a Jupiter-MOID of 0.8 AU.
As of 2017[update], it has an apparent magnitude of ~28 and is 24 AU from the Sun. It comes to opposition in mid-June. It would require one of the largest telescopes in the world for any more follow-up observations.
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