In the vast expanse of our Solar System, 2018 AG37 stands out as a remarkable discovery. Known by its nickname "FarFarOut," this distant trans-Neptunian object was first observed in 2018. Its discovery was part of a broader search for distant celestial bodies, including the hypothetical Planet Nine. This article delves into the journey of discovering 2018 AG37 and the subsequent observations that have helped astronomers understand its characteristics.
Initial Discovery
The journey of 2018 AG37 began on January 15, 2018, when astronomers Scott Sheppard, David Tholen, and Chad Trujillo first imaged the object. They were using the large 8.2-meter Subaru Telescope at Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii. The team was on a mission to find distant Solar System objects, including the elusive Planet Nine. However, it wasn't until a year later, in January 2019, that Sheppard noticed the faint object while reviewing images from the previous year. This delay was due to the object's faintness and the vast amount of data collected during their search.
In February 2019, Sheppard announced the discovery of 2018 AG37 during a rescheduled talk. He humorously nicknamed it "FarFarOut," following the previous farthest object, 2018 VG18, which was called "Farout." This nickname highlighted the object's extreme distance from the Sun, making it the farthest known object in the Solar System at the time.
Follow-Up Observations
After its initial discovery, further observations were necessary to confirm and understand 2018 AG37's orbit. In March 2019, Sheppard reobserved the object using the 6.5-meter Magellan-Baade telescope at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. Additional observations were conducted in May 2019 and January 2020 with the Subaru Telescope at Mauna Kea. These observations were crucial in establishing a tentative orbit for 2018 AG37.
The confirmation of 2018 AG37 was formally announced in a press release by the Carnegie Institution for Science on February 10, 2021. This announcement marked the culmination of years of careful observation and analysis, solidifying 2018 AG37's status as a significant discovery in the field of astronomy.
Challenges and Future Observations
Despite the progress made, determining the precise orbit of 2018 AG37 remains a challenge. The object moves so slowly due to its great distance from the Sun that even two years of observations have not fully constrained its orbit. The nominal orbit is highly uncertain, with a condition code of 9, indicating significant uncertainty.
To refine the orbital uncertainties, several more years of observations are necessary. These future observations will help astronomers better understand the object's path and its interactions with other celestial bodies, particularly Neptune. As 2018 AG37 continues its journey through the Solar System, it remains a subject of great interest and study, offering insights into the distant reaches of our cosmic neighborhood.
