Discovery, Observational Data and the Orbit of the Transneptunian Object (420356) Praamžius

Abstract

A project for astrometric and photometric observations of asteroids with the VATT telescope on Mt. Graham is described. One of the most important results is the discovery of the Transneptunian object (420356) Praamžius. We computed its orbit applying 198 optical observations from 2003 February 1 to 2016 January 30. We also followed its orbit searching for minimal distances to Neptune between the years 17 000 and −13 000. Combined with the apparent brightness, the orbit gives the absolute magnitude MR = 5.59 ± 0.37 mag. Using a typical albedo value of 0.08 for Centaurs and TNOs, we get a diameter of (420356) Praamžius in the range 302–425 km.

Keywords

• minor planets
• asteroids: astrometry
• photometry
• orbits – minor planets
• asteroids: transneptunian objects: individual: (420356) praamžius)