(445473) 2010 VZ98

is a trans-Neptunian object of the scattered disc, orbiting the Sun in the outermost region of the Solar System. It has a diameter of approximately 400 kilometers.
It was discovered on 11 November 2010, by American astronomers David Rabinowitz, Megan Schwamb and Suzanne Tourtellotte at ESO's La Silla Observatory site in northern Chile, when it was 38 AU from the Sun.

Orbit and classification

orbits the Sun at a distance of 34.3–266.6 AU once every 1846 years. Its orbit has a high eccentricity of 0.77 and an inclination of 5° with respect to the ecliptic. Small number statistics suggest that this body may be trapped in a 3:2 orbital resonance with an unseen planet beyond Neptune with a semi-major axis of 195–215 AU. The first precovery was taken by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey at the Apache Point Observatory in 1998, extending the body's observation arc by 12 years prior to its discovery. The precoveries were found in May 2015.

Physical characteristics

A rotational lightcurve of was obtained from photometric observation by members of the Carnegie Institution for Science at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile. The light-curve gave a rotation period of hours with a brightness variation of 0.18 magnitude.

Diameter and albedo

While American astronomer Michael E. Brown assumes a diameter of 471 kilometers and an albedo of 0.07, Johnston's Archive estimates a diameter of 443 kilometers with generic albedo of 0.09. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.10 and calculates a diameter of 401 kilometers. These estimates are based on an absolute magnitude between 5.0 and 5.3.

Naming

As of 2025, this minor planet remains unnamed.