A low-inclination neutral Trans-Neptunian Object in a extreme orbit

Abstract

We present photometric observations and numerical simulations of 2016 SD${}_{106}$, a low inclination ($i=4.8^{\circ }$) extreme trans-Neptunian Object with a large semi-major axis ($a=350$ au) and perihelion ($q=42.6$ au). This object possesses a peculiar neutral color of $g-r=0.45\pm 0.05$ and $g-i=0.72\pm 0.06$, in comparison with other distant trans-Neptunian objects, all of which have moderate-red to ultra-red colors. A numerical integration based on orbital fitting on astrometric data covering eight years of arc confirms that 2016 SD${}_{106}$ is a metastable object without significant scattering evolution. Each of the clones survived at the end of the 1 Gyr simulation. However, very few neutral objects with inclinations $<5^{\circ }$ have been found in the outer solar system, even in the main Kuiper belt. Furthermore, most mechanisms which lift perihelion distances are expected to produce a very low number of extreme objects with inclinations $<5^{\circ }$. We thus explored the possibility that a hypothetical distant planet could increase the production of such objects. Our simulations show that no 2016 SD${}_{106}$-like orbits can be produced from three Kuiper belt populations tested (i.e. plutinos, twotinos, and Haumea Family) without the presence of an hypothetical planet, while a few similar orbits can be obtained with it; however, the presence of the additional planet produces a wide range of large semimajor-axis / large perihelion objects, in apparent contradiction with the observed scarcity of objects in those regions of phase space. Future studies may determine if there is a connection between the existence of a perihelion gap and a particular orbital configuration of an hypothetical distant planet.

arXiv comment10 pages, 4 figures, 1 tables, accepted for publication in the ApJ Letters

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