View source for Astronomy:(119979) 2002 WC19

{{DISPLAYTITLE:{{mp|(119979) 2002 WC|19}}}}
{{Infobox planet
 | minorplanet         = yes
 | background          = #C2E0FF
 | name                = {{mp|(119979) 2002 WC|19}}
 | image               = 2002 WC19.jpg
 | image_scale          =
 | caption             = {{mp|2002 WC|19}} and its satellite imaged by the [[Astronomy:Hubble Space Telescope|Hubble Space Telescope]] in 2007
 | discoverer          = [[Organization:Palomar Observatory|Palomar Observatory]]
 | discovered          = 16 November 2002
 | mpc_name            = {{mp|(119979) 2002 WC|19}}
 | alt_names           = 
 | mp_category         = Twotino<ref name="Buie" /><ref name="MPEC 2009-C70" /><br />binary
 | orbit_ref           =  <ref name="jpldata" />
 | epoch               = 13 January 2016 ([[Astronomy:Julian day|JD]] 2457400.5)
 | semimajor           = {{Convert|48.010|AU|Tm|abbr=on}}
 | perihelion          = {{Convert|35.289|AU|Tm|abbr=on}}
 | time_periastron = ≈ 5 November 2056<ref name=perihelion>[http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi?find_body=1&body_group=sb&sstr=2002WC19 JPL Horizons] Observer Location: @sun (Perihelion occurs when deldot changes from negative to positive. Uncertainty in time of perihelion is 3-sigma.)</ref><br />±3 days
 | aphelion            = {{Convert|60.732|AU|Tm|abbr=on|lk=on}}
 | eccentricity        = 0.26498
 | period              = 332.67 [[Astronomy:Julian year|yr]] (121,507 [[Astronomy:Julian year|d]])
 | avg_speed           = 
 | max_speed           =
 | min_speed           =
 | inclination         = 9.1746°
 | asc_node            = 109.7547°
 | arg_peri            = 44.356°
 | mean_anomaly        = 316.02[[Degree (angle)|°]]
 | satellites          = 1 (81 km)<ref name="johnston119979" />
 | dimensions          = 338 km<ref name="johnston119979" />
 | mass                = {{val|7.7|e=19|0.5|u=kg}}<ref name="johnston119979" />
 | density             = {{val|1.97|u=g/cm<sup>3</sup>}}<ref name="johnston119979" />
 | sidereal_day        = 
 | albedo              = 0.07 (expected from theory)<ref name="brown-dplist" />
 | single_temperature  = 
 | spectral_type       = 
 | abs_magnitude       = 4.9
  | mean_motion         = {{Deg2DMS|0.0029628|sup=ms}} / day
 | observation_arc     = 3978 days (10.89 yr)
 | uncertainty         = 3
 | moid                = {{Convert|34.3056|AU|Tm|abbr=on}}
 | jupiter_moid        = {{Convert|29.9229|AU|Tm|abbr=on}}
}}

'''{{mp|(119979) 2002 WC|19}}''' (provisional designation '''{{mp|2002 WC|19}}''')  is a twotino, that is, a planetoid in a 1:2 orbital resonance with [[Astronomy:Neptune|Neptune]]. It was discovered on November 16, 2002 at the [[Organization:Palomar Observatory|Palomar Observatory]]. If its derived diameter is correct it would have a higher density than [[Astronomy:Pluto|Pluto]], which is unusual as it appears to be much smaller than the expected size at which a Kuiper belt object usually becomes solid.

Knowing how many twotinos there are may reveal whether Neptune took roughly 1 million or 10 million years to migrate about 7&nbsp;AU from its birth location.<ref name="on-the-fringe" />

== Satellite ==

A natural satellite was reported to be orbiting {{mp|(119979) 2002 WC|19}} (named S/2007 (119979) 1) on February 27, 2007. It is estimated to be {{val|4092|94|u=km}} from the primary, with an orbital period of {{val|8.403|0.001}} days, an eccentricity of {{val|0.21|0.05}} and an inclination of {{val|24.0|0.7|u=°}}. Assuming similar albedos, it is a quarter the diameter of its primary, or around {{convert|81|km|mi}} in diameter.<ref name="johnston119979" />
<gallery>
file:2002WC19-orbit.png|Orbit of {{mp|2002 WC|19}} compared to Pluto and Neptune|alt=alt language
file:TNO-2002WC19.gif|1:2 [[Astronomy:Libration|libration]] over 20,000 years – Neptune is held stationary (dot at 5 o'clock); orbit of Uranus in blue|alt=alt language
</gallery>

{{clear|left}}

== References ==
{{reflist
|refs=

<ref name="Buie">{{cite web
  |author=Marc W. Buie
  |date=2004-12-14 
  |title=Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for 119979
  |publisher=(using 61 of 65 observations) SwRI (Space Science Department)
  |url=http://www.boulder.swri.edu/~buie/kbo/astrom/119979.html
  |accessdate=2009-03-04}}</ref>

<ref name="MPEC 2009-C70">{{cite web
   |title=MPEC 2009-C70 :Distant Minor Planets (2009 February 28.0 TT)
   |date=2009-02-10
   |publisher=[[Organization:Minor Planet Center|Minor Planet Center]]
   |url=http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/mpec/K09/K09C70.html
   |accessdate=2009-03-04}}</ref>

<ref name=jpldata>{{cite web
  |type=2012-11-06 last obs; [[Astronomy:Observation arc|arc]]: 10.89 years
  |title=JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 119979 (2002 WC19)
  |url=https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=119979
  |accessdate=7 April 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="johnston119979">{{cite web
  |date=27 May 2019
  |title=(119979) 2002 WC19
  |publisher=Johnston's Archive
  |author=Wm. Robert Johnston
  |url=http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/astro/astmoons/am-119979.html
  |accessdate=2020-10-16}}</ref>

<ref name="brown-dplist">Mike Brown, [http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/dps.html ''How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system?''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018154917/http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/dps.html |date=October 18, 2011 }}</ref>

<ref name="on-the-fringe">{{cite web
  |date=2009-01-04
  |title=On the Fringe
  |publisher=ScienceNews
  |author=Ron Cowen
  |url=http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/52225/title/On_the_Fringe
  |accessdate=2010-01-04|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107053508/http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/52225/title/On_the_Fringe|archivedate=7 January 2010<!--Added by DASHBot-->}}</ref>

}} <!-- end of reflist -->

== External links ==
* {{JPL small body|id=119979}}

{{Minor planets navigator|number=119979|PageName={{mp|(119979) 2002 WC|19}}}}
{{Small Solar System bodies}}
{{Trans-Neptunian objects}}
{{Dwarf planets}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:119979}}
[[Category:Possible dwarf planets]]

{{Sourceattribution|(119979) 2002 WC19}}