(55565) 2002 AW197

Hubble Space Telescope image of 2002 AW₁₉₇ taken in 2006

(55565) 2002 AW₁₉₇ is a classical trans-Neptunian object from the Kuiper belt. It has a diameter of at least 700 kilometers ( i. e 430 miles). It is the largest unnamed object in the Solar System and the largest planetoid without a moon. It was discovered at Palomar Observatory in 2002. It has a rotation period of 8.8 hours.

Discovery

2002 AW₁₉₇ was discovered on 10 January 2002, by astronomers at the Palomar Observatory in California. Astronomers involved in the discovery were Michael Brown, Chad Trujillo, Eleanor Helin, Michael Hicks, Kenneth Lawrence and Steven H. Pravdo.

Physical characteristics

It has a diameter of at least 700 kilometers (430 miles). It is the largest unnamed object in the Solar System and the largest planetoid without a moon.

Orbit

It orbits the Sun at a distance of 40.9–53.2 AU once every 322.6 years. Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.13. It has an orbital inclination of 24°.

(55565) 2002 AW197 Media

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  2002 AW₁₉₇'s orbit is outside that of Pluto's, with a higher inclination and different orientation

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  2002 AW₁₉₇ imaged by Spitzer on 13 April 2004