2011 MM4
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE: {{mp|2011 MM|4}}}}
{{Infobox planet
| minorplanet = yes
| name = {{mp| 2011 MM|4}}
| background = #C7FF8F
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| discoverer = Pan-STARRS 1
| discovery_site = Haleakala Obs.
| discovered = 24 June 2011
| mpc_name = {{mp|2011 MM|4}}
| alt_names = {{mp|2011 MM|4}}
| pronounced =
| named_after =
| mp_category = {{nowrap|centaur{{·}}damocloid}}
distant
| epoch = 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
| uncertainty = 0
| observation_arc = 6.99 yr (2,552 d)
| aphelion = 31.121 AU
| perihelion = 11.138 AU
| semimajor = 21.129 AU
| eccentricity = 0.4729
| period = 97.12 yr (35,473 d)
| mean_anomaly = 49.176°
| mean_motion = {{Deg2DMS|0.0101|sup=ms}} / day
| inclination = 100.48°
| asc_node = 282.45°
| arg_peri = 6.86°
| tisserand = −0.4
| mean_diameter = {{val|64|ul=km}}
| rotation =
| spectral_type =
}}
{{mp| 2011 MM|4}}, provisional designation: {{mp|2011 MM|4}}, is a sizable centaur and retrograde damocloid from the outer Solar System, approximately {{convert|64|km|mi|abbr=off|sigfig=2|sp=us}} in diameter. It was discovered on 24 June 2011, by astronomers with the Pan-STARRS 1 at the Haleakala Obs. in Hawaii.
Orbit and classification
{{mp|2011 MM|4}} orbits the Sun at a distance of 11.1–31.2 AU once every 97 years and 2 months (35,473 days; semi-major axis of 21.13 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.47 and an inclination of 100° with respect to the ecliptic. The body's observation arc begins at Pan-STARRS in June 2010.
= Retrograde centaur and damocloid =
{{mp|2011 MM|4}} is a member of the centaurs, a population of inward-moving bodies transiting from the Kuiper belt to the group of Jupiter-family comets. Orbiting mainly between Jupiter and Neptune, they typically have a semi-major axis of 5.5 to 30.1 AU. Centaurs are cometary-like bodies with an eccentric orbit. Their short dynamical lifetime is due to the perturbing forces exerted on them by the outer planets of the Solar System.
The object is on a retrograde orbit as it has an inclination of more than 90°. There are only about a hundred known retrograde minor planets out of nearly 800,000 observed bodies, and, together with {{mpl-|468861|2013 LU|28}} and {{mpl-|342842|2008 YB|3}}, it is among the largest such objects. The object also meets the orbital definition for being a damocloid. This is a small group of cometary-like objects without a coma or tail and a Tisserand's parameter with respect to Jupiter of less than 2 besides a retrograde orbit.
Numbering and naming
This minor planet has no number yet.
Physical characteristics
= Diameter and albedo =
According to the survey of centaurs and scattered-disk objects carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, {{mp|2011 MM|4}} measures 64 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.083, which makes it too small to be considered as a dwarf-planet candidate.
= Rotation period =
{{As of|2021}}, no rotational lightcurve of has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.
See also
- {{Section link|List of centaurs (small Solar System bodies)|2011 MM4}}
References
{{reflist|30em|refs=
|type = 2017-10-29 last obs.
|title = JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 2011 MM4
|url = https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2011%20MM4
|publisher = Jet Propulsion Laboratory
|accessdate = 18 October 2018}}
|title = 2011 MM4
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=2011+mm4
|accessdate = 18 October 2018}}
|title = List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects
|work = Johnston's Archive
|date = 7 October 2018
|last = Johnston |first= Wm. Robert
|url = http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/astro/tnoslist.html
|accessdate = 17 October 2018}}
|title = List Of Centaurs and Scattered-Disk Objects
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/t_centaurs.html
|accessdate = 18 October 2018}}
|first1 = C. |last1 = de la Fuente Marcos
|first2 = R. |last2 = de la Fuente Marcos
|date = August 2014
|title = Large retrograde Centaurs: visitors from the Oort cloud?
|journal = Astrophysics and Space Science
|volume = 352
|issue = 2
|pages = 409–419(Ap&SSHomepage)
|bibcode = 2014Ap&SS.352..409D
|doi = 10.1007/s10509-014-1993-9
|arxiv = 1406.1450
|s2cid = 189843380
}}
|display-authors = 6
|first1 = James M. |last1 = Bauer
|first2 = Tommy |last2 = Grav
|first3 = Erin |last3 = Blauvelt
|first4 = A. K. |last4 = Mainzer
|first5 = Joseph R. |last5 = Masiero
|first6 = Rachel |last6 = Stevenson
|first7 = Emily |last7 = Kramer
|first8 = Yan R. |last8 = Fernández
|first9 = C. M. |last9 = Lisse
|first10 = Roc M. |last10 = Cutri
|first11 = Paul R. |last11 = Weissman
|first12 = John W. |last12 = Dailey
|first13 = Frank J. |last13 = Masci
|first14 = Russel |last14 = Walker
|first15 = Adam |last15 = Waszczak
|first16 = Carrie R. |last16 = Nugent
|first17 = Karen J. |last17 = Meech
|first18 = Andrew |last18 = Lucas
|first19 = George |last19 = Pearman
|first20 = Ashlee |last20 = Wilkins
|first21 = Jessica |last21 = Watkins
|first22 = Shrinivas |last22 = Kulkarni
|first23 = Edward L. |last23 = Wright
|last24 = WISE Team
|last25 = PTF Team
|date = August 2013
|title = Centaurs and Scattered Disk Objects in the Thermal Infrared: Analysis of WISE/NEOWISE Observations
|journal = The Astrophysical Journal
|volume = 773
|issue = 1
|page = 11
|bibcode = 2013ApJ...773...22B
|doi = 10.1088/0004-637X/773/1/22
|arxiv = 1306.1862
|s2cid = 51139703 }}
|first1 = N. |last1 = Peixinho
|first2 = A. |last2 = Doressoundiram
|first3 = A. |last3 = Delsanti
|first4 = H. |last4 = Boehnhardt
|first5 = M. A. |last5 = Barucci
|first6 = I. |last6 = Belskaya
|date = October 2003
|title = Reopening the TNOs color controversy: Centaurs bimodality and TNOs unimodality
|journal = Astronomy and Astrophysics
|volume = 410
|issue = 3
|pages = L29–L32
|bibcode = 2003A&A...410L..29P
|doi = 10.1051/0004-6361:20031420
|arxiv = astro-ph/0309428
|s2cid = 8515984
}}
|title = LCDB Data for (342842)
|publisher = Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB)
|url = http://www.minorplanet.info/PHP/generateOneAsteroidInfo.php?AstInfo=342842
|accessdate = 18 October 2018}}
}}
External links
- [https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/t_centaurs.html List Of Centaurs and Scattered-Disk Objects], Minor Planet Center
- {{AstDys|2011+MM4}}
- {{JPL small body|id=2011+MM4}}
{{Small Solar System bodies}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2011 MM4}}