(528219) 2008 KV42

(528219) 2008 KV42 (<a href="/facts/Provisional_designation_in_astronomy/1XVyJynE">provisional designation</a>: 2008 KV42; nicknamed Drac) is a <a href="/facts/Trans-Neptunian_object/oF5vsbz9">trans-Neptunian object</a> and the first one with a <a href="/facts/Retrograde_and_prograde_motion/1HCbwQqy">retrograde orbit</a> to be discovered. This retrograde motion with an <a href="/facts/Orbital_inclination/TQCFWyfd">orbital inclination</a> of 103<a href="/facts/Degree_(angle)/f48Ns8SX">°</a> suggests that it is the missing link between its source in the <a href="/facts/Hills_cloud/gQDyNasP">Hills cloud</a> and <a href="/facts/Halley%2527s_Comet/DQongwTQ">Halley-type</a> <a href="/facts/Comet/w34utQCd">comets</a>, thus providing further insight into the evolution of the <a href="/facts/Outer_Solar_System/QIcLSazQ">outer Solar System</a>. The object measures approximately 77 kilometers (48 miles) in diameter. With a <a href="/facts/Semi-major_axis/l7JES2wo">semi-major axis</a> of 42 <a href="/facts/Astronomical_unit/gjsbu5xU">AU</a>, it takes about 269 years to complete an orbit around the <a href="/facts/Sun/CadPCVHh">Sun</a>.
Officially discovered on 31 May 2008, the discovery was announced on 16 July 2008, by the <a href="/facts/Canada%25E2%2580%2593France_Ecliptic_Plane_Survey/R4tIAzYJ">Canada–France Ecliptic Plane Survey</a> team led by <a href="/facts/Brett_Gladman/ft36fmFH">Brett Gladman</a>. The discovery team nicknamed 2008 KV42 "Drac" after <a href="/facts/Count_Dracula/L0r44SMH">Count Dracula</a>.

(528219) 2008 KV42 open-in-new

(528219) 2008 KV42