28978 Ixion

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**28978 Ixion**
Orbital elements
Eccentricity (orbit)>e
Inclination>i	°
Perihelion>q	~ on } Astronomical Unit>AU
Argument of perihelion>ω	°
Semi-major axis>a	AU
Longitude of the ascending node>ω	°
Aphelion>Q	~ on } Astronomical Unit>AU
Mean anomaly>M	°
Orbital period>P	years
Mean motion>n	°/day
Time of perihelion passage>TP

28978 Ixion ([[Wiktionary:Ixion|ik·sye'·un]]) is a Kuiper belt object discovered on May 22, 2001. With a diameter estimated at 800 km Ixion is the second largest plutino, i.e. it follows an orbit similar to Pluto in 2:3 orbital resonance with Neptune.

Little is known about this object. The object is moderately red (slightly redder than 50000 Quaoar) and has a higher albedo (0.15) compared with the mid-sized red classical objects: 0.10 and 0.04 for Quaoar and 20000 Varuna respectively (see colour comparisons).

The latest spectroscopy results indicate that the Ixionian surface is a mixture of dark carbon and tholin, which is a heteropolymer formed by irradiation of clathrates of water and organic compounds (More on possible spectra interpretations).

The infrared spectrum was found flat (did not show the red slope of Varuna) and water ice absobtion lines (1.5 and 2μm) were absent (Licandro et al. 2002).

28978 Ixion is named after Ixion, a figure from Greek mythology. It previously had the provisional designation 2001 KX₇₆.

Orbit

Ixion and Pluto follow similar but differently oriented orbits as shown on the diagram (Ixion in green , Pluto in red, Neptune in grey, the positions as of April 2006). Ixion’s perihelion is below the ecliptic. Uncharacteristically for the bodies locked in the resonance (see Orcus), Ixion approaches Pluto with less than 20 degrees angular separation. Ixion is currently crossing the ecliptic heading below, and will reach its perihelion in 2070. Pluto has passed the perihelion (1989) and is descending toward the ecliptic.

External links

[AstDys] orbital elements
[Orbit simulation] from JPL (Java).

References

[Pre-print] about Ixion's surface from the Planetary Systems Research group of the University of Helsinki

[Pre-print on arXiv]

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Trans Neptunian Objects [[http://encycl.opentopia.com/ edit ]]
Planet : Pluto | 2003 UB₃₁₃
Plutino : Pluto* | 1993 RO | 1993 RP | | 1993 SC | 1994 TB | 1995 QZ₉ | 1996 SZ₄ | 1996 TP₆₆ | 38083 Rhadamanthus | 38628 Huya | 28978 Ixion | 2003 VS₂ | 90482 Orcus
Cubewanos: 1992 QB₁ | 1994 GV₉ | 1994 JQ₁ | 1994 VK₈ | 1996 TO₆₆ | 19521 Chaos | 53311 Deucalion | 2002 AW₁₉₇ | 50000 Quaoar | 2002 MS₄ | 2002 TX₃₀₀ | 2002 UX₂₅ | 1997 CQ₂₉ = 58534 Logos | 2003 AZ₈₄ | 2003 EL₆₁ | 2003 QW₉₀ | 2005 FY₉
Twotino: 1996 TR₆₆ | 1998 SM₁₆₅ | 1997 SZ₁₀ | 1999 RB₂₁₆ | 2000 JG₈₁
Scattered disk object: 1995 TL₈ | 1996 GQ₂₁ | 1996 TL₆₆ | 2000 OO₆₇ | 2000 OM₆₇ | 2001 KC₇₇ | 2001 UR₁₆₃ | 2002 CY₂₂₄ | 2002 GX₃₂ | 2003 UB₃₁₃**
Unclassified Objects : 1994 JS | 1994 JR₁ | 1995 DA₂ | 1995 SM₅₅ | 1996 TQ₆₆ | 1997 CR₂₉ | 1997 CS₂₉ | 1997 CU₂₉ | 1997 QJ₄ | 1998 HJ₁₅₁ | 1998 HK₁₅₁ | 1998 HP₁₅₁ | 1998 HM₁₅₁ | 1998 KR₆₅ | 1998 SM₁₆₅ | 1998 SN₁₆₅1998 US₄₃ | 1998 VG₄₄ | 1998 WW₂₄ | 1998 WA₃₁ | 1998 WU₃₁ | 1998 WW₃₁ | 1998 WA₂₅ | 1999 CP₁₃₃ | 1999 CL₁₅₈ | 1999 CC₁₅₈ | 1999 DF₉ | 1999 HT₁₁ | 1999 HB₁₂ | 1999 HC₁₂ | 1999 KR₁₆ | 1999 OY₃
Natural satellites : Charon (Pluto) | Hydra (Pluto) | Nix (Pluto) | S/2000 (1998 WW₃₁) 1 | S/2005 (2003 EL₆₁) 1 | S/2005 (2003 EL₆₁) 2 | S/2005 (2003 UB₃₁₃) 1 |}
Large trans-Neptunian objects[http://encycl.opentopia.com/ edit ]
Kuiper belt: Pluto (Charon) | Orcus | Ixion | 2002 UX₂₅ | Varuna | 2002 TX₃₀₀ | 2003 EL₆₁ | Quaoar | 2005 FY₉ | 2002 AW₁₉₇
Scattered disc: 2002 TC₃₀₂ | 2003 UB₃₁₃ | 2004 XR₁₉₀ | Sedna†
See also Triton, astronomical objects and the solar system's list of objects, sorted by radius or mass.
For pronunciation, see: Centaur and TNO pronunciation.
† Current MPC classification. Some consider Sedna an Oort cloud object.

The minor planets
Vulcanoids | Near-Earth asteroids | Main belt | Jupiter Trojans | Centaurs | Damocloids | Comets | Trans-Neptunians (Kuiper belt · Scattered disc · Oort cloud)
For other objects and regions, see: , , asteroid moons and the Solar system
For a complete listing, see: List of asteroids. See also Pronunciation of asteroid names and Meanings of asteroid names.

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