(20000) Varuna
2000
WR106
Large TNO precovered on several
old plates
On 2000 Dec. 30 the largest known Trans-Neptunian
Object (TNO) except Pluto designated 2000 WR106 was found on several archive
plates from the 1.2-m Oschin Schmidt Telescope at Palomar Observatory.
The astrometric measurements from these plates, the oldest dating back
to 1954 Nov. 24, will help to significantly improve the orbit.
2000 WR106 was discovered
on 2000 Nov. 28 by R. S. McMillan using the 0.9-m Spacewatch Telescope
on Kitt Peak. It was followed up by other observatories and after about
one week the assumed circular orbit was good enough to start searching
the plate archives. The first plates found, which showed 2000 WR106's image,
were made on 1997 Jan. 10 and 1996 Oct. 10.
With these measurements an improved orbit was calculated
and another two plates from 1996 Feb. 15 and 1996 Jan. 14 were found. This
procedure was repeated again and again until all plates which showed 2000
WR106 had been picked up.
As a result, this large TNO has now observations
from 6 oppositions spanning 46 years and the 1954 Nov. 24 observation is
maybe the oldest observation of a TNO, except Pluto.
(20000) Varuna = 2000 WR106
Discovered 2000 Nov. 28 by Spacewatch
at Kitt Peak.
Varuna is one of the oldest of the vedic deities, the maker and
upholder of heaven and the earth. As such he is king of gods and
men and
the universe. The name was suggested by M. Sarabhai.
2001 Jan 17.83724
RA 06 41 36.77 DEC +23
55 27.3
1.52-m OAN Calar Alto
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Orbit and position of (20000) 2000 WR106
on 2000 Nov 28
(created with EasySky)
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1997 Jan 10.21771
RA 06 20 09.43 DEC +22
38 01.8
Palomar Mountain-DSS
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1996 Oct 10.47916
RA 06 25 59.42 DEC +22
29 47.7
Palomar Mountain-DSS
|
1996 Feb 15.15625
RA 06 12 15.85 DEC +22
20 35.4
Palomar Mountain-DSS
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1996 Jan 14.23056
RA 06 14 24.49 DEC +22
17 22.7
Palomar Mountain-DSS
|
1990 Oct 23.49584
RA 05 53 25.27 DEC +20
19 22.6
Palomar Mountain-DSS
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1955 Oct 23.35278
RA 02 52 01.03 DEC +00
56 42.7
Palomar Mountain-DSS
|
1954 Nov 24.28299
RA 02 44 20.34 DEC +00
08 15.2
Palomar Mountain-DSS
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Digitized
Sky Survey Copyrights
DSS-Images located and measured by
DAPS (A. Knöfel)
and DANEOPS (R. Stoss).
DAPS
DANEOPS
Discovery
pictures of 2000 WR106
MPEC
2000-X02
MPEC
2000-Y45
IAUC
7554
IAUC
7583
CCNet
Sky & Telescope
SGF/NEODyS
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