2018 VG18

2018 VG18 is a distant trans-Neptunian object that was discovered well beyond 100 AU (15 billion km) from the Sun. It was first observed on 10 November 2018 by astronomers Scott Sheppard, David Tholen, and Chad Trujillo during a search for distant trans-Neptunian objects whose orbits might be gravitationally influenced by the hypothetical Planet Nine. They announced their discovery on 17 December 2018 and nicknamed the object "Farout" to emphasize its distance from the Sun.

"Farout" redirects here. Not to be confused with FarFarOut. For other uses, see Far Out (disambiguation).
2018 VG18
Discovery 
Discovered byS. S. Sheppard
D. Tholen
C. Trujillo
Discovery siteMauna Kea Obs.
Discovery date10 November 2018
Designations
2018 VG18
"Farout" (nickname)
SDO  · TNO 
distant 
Orbital characteristics 
Epoch 31 May 2020 (JD 2459000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 6
Observation arc16.15 yr (5,900 days) using 34 observations
Earliest precovery date21 November 2003
Aphelion125.044±0.043 AU
(occurs 2067)
Perihelion38.341±0.030 AU
81.693±0.028 AU
Eccentricity0.53067±0.00041
738.39±0.38 yr
157.653°±0.473°
0° 0m 4.805s / day
Inclination24.284°±0.002°
245.317°±0.001°
≈ 1698
±30 years
17.299°±0.169°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
656 km (est. at 0.12)
500 km (est.)
24.6
3.94±0.52

    2018 VG18 is the second-most distant natural object ever observed in the Solar System, after the trans-Neptunian object 2018 AG37 (132 AU) discovered by the same team in January 2018. As of 2021 the object is at an observed distance of 123.5 AU (18 billion km) from the Sun, more than three times the observed distance of the dwarf planet Pluto. 2018 VG18 is not close to being the object with the most distant orbit on average, as its orbital semi-major axis is estimated to be only about 81 AU. For comparison, the semi-major axis of the planetoid and possible dwarf planet 90377 Sedna is about 500 AU.

    Observations of 2018 VG18 show that it appears pinkish in color, indicative of an ice-rich surface.

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