# The long-term evolution of known resonant trans-Neptunian objects

M. Saillenfest, G. Lari

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M. Saillenfest, G. Lari. The long-term evolution of known resonant trans-Neptunian objects. Astronomy & Astrophysics - A&A, 2017, 603, pp.A79. 10.1051/0004-6361/201730525. [hal-02238642](https://hal.science/hal-02238642v1)

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# The long-term evolution of known resonant trans-Neptunian objects

M. Saillenfest<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="2" /> and G. Lari<fnref n="2" />

Received 30 January 2017 / Accepted 10 April 2017

## ABSTRACT

**Aims.** Numerous trans-Neptunian objects are known to be in mean-motion resonance with Neptune. We aim to describe their long-term orbital evolution (both past and future) by means of a one-degree-of-freedom secular model. In this paper, we focus only on objects with a semi-major axis larger than 50 astronomical units (au).

**Methods.** For each resonant object considered, a 500 000-year numerical integration is performed. The output is digitally filtered to get the parameters of the resonant secular model. Their long-term (Giga-year) orbital evolution is then represented by the level curves of the secular Hamiltonian.

**Results.** For the majority of objects considered, the mean-motion resonance has little impact on the long-term trajectories (the secular dynamics is similar to a non-resonant one). However, a subset of objects is strongly affected by the resonance, producing moderately-high-amplitude oscillations of the perihelion distance and/or libration of the argument of perihelion around a fixed centre. Moreover, the high perihelion distance of the object 2015 FJ345 is plainly explained by long-term resonant dynamics, allowing us to also deduce its orbital elements at the time of capture in resonance (at least 15 million years ago). The same type of past evolution is expected for 2014 FZ71.

**Key words.** celestial mechanics – Kuiper belt: general – minor planets, asteroids: general

## 1. Introduction

The orbital distribution of the trans-Neptunian objects is still an open problem, leading to numerous conjectures about the origin and evolution of the external solar system. In this context, mean-motion resonances with Neptune are known to have played an important role in sculpting this population from its initial distribution (see for instance Malhotra 1993; Duncan et al. 1995; Gomes et al. 2005). According to numerical simulations, temporary and chaotic resonance captures are the most frequent, but some trappings are sustainable on a Giga-year timescale, in particular when the resonant link leads the small body towards a dynamical region where the semi-major axis cannot diffuse anymore. This happens for instance if the perihelion distance increases during the resonant motion, because this reduces the width of every neighbouring resonance, preventing the object from undergoing chaotic diffusion driven by resonance overlap. The resulting trajectory is quasi-integrable and it can be modelled by a secular-like theory.

Recently, Saillenfest et al. (2016) presented a semi-analytical model designed to accurately describe, and in a plain way, the long-term dynamics of such objects. This model can be seen as a generalisation of the secular theory by Kozai (1985) and its extension by Gallardo et al. (2012). In order to reduce the system to a single degree of freedom, the key element of the resolution consists in the large separation of timescales between the oscillation of the resonant angle and the precession of the argument of perihelion (adiabatic approximation). Up to now, the application of this model has been made exclusively on distant small bodies

(a > 100 au), for which the adiabatic approximation is more relevant. However, only a few trans-Neptunian objects are known with semi-major axes that large, and their orbital uncertainties are necessarily rather high since only a fraction of their orbits has been observed (orbital period >1000 yr). Consequently, the application of a secular model to these objects can only give the long-term dynamics these objects would have if they were in mean-motion resonance with Neptune (Saillenfest et al. 2017).

In this paper, our goal is to study the long-term evolution of the trans-Neptunian objects known to be in resonance, that is, those for which the uncertainties of the orbital elements are predominantly compatible with a resonant trapping. As presented for instance by Lykawka & Mukai (2007), these objects are quite numerous and most of them have small semi-major axes (because of the observational constraints). We show here that, fortunately, the adiabatic approximation is also viable for semi-major axes as small as 50 au, even if the two timescales are not as strikingly separated as for a > 100 au. For even closer objects, individual analyses would be required, not only to check the validity of the adiabatic approximation, but also the possible occurrence of secular resonances with the giant planets (Knezevic et al. 1991), which would also invalidate this model. Consequently, this article focusses on the ~40 currently known resonant trans-Neptunian objects with a > 50 au.

We selected the known resonant trans-Neptunian objects from three reference classifications (Lykawka & Mukai 2007; Gladman et al. 2008, 2012), retaining only the “securely classified” ones with a semi-major axis larger than 50 au. Two recent observation reports were also added: Bannister et al. (2016)

<footnote n="1">¹ IMCCE, Observatoire de Paris, 77 av. Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France
e-mail: melaine.saillenfest@obspm.fr</footnote>

<footnote n="2">² Dipartimento di Matematica, Università di Pisa, Largo Bruno Pontecorvo 5, 56127 Pisa, Italy
e-mail: lari@student.dm.unipi.it</footnote>
present the discovery of 2015 RR$_{245}$, which has a confirmed resonant classification; on the other hand, Sheppard et al. (2016) introduce some objects that are probably resonant or have been strongly affected by a mean-motion resonance with Neptune. This last classification is slightly different, but we chose to add these objects to this study to emphasise the link with recent results focussed on high-perihelion objects. Indeed, the secular model used in this paper proved to be an efficient tool to reveal dynamical paths leading to high perihelion distances and large inclinations. The objects studied in this paper are listed in Table 1.

In Sect. 2, we recall briefly the resonant secular model used (Sect. 2.1) and we explain how suitable secular parameters can be obtained from known objects (Sect. 2.2). Then, Sect. 3 summarises our results using a selection of the most representative phase portraits obtained. Most of the objects considered have quite ordinary secular dynamics (Sect. 3.1), but a subset of them evolve near or inside secular libration islands (Sect. 3.2) and one object follows a regular-by-part secular trajectory (Sect. 3.3).

## 2. Model and method

### 2.1. The resonant secular model

In this section, we outline the semi-analytical model introduced by Saillenfest et al. (2016). We consider a massless particle affected by the Sun and N planets, which are supposed on circular and coplanar orbits (typically Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune in their invariable plane). The dynamics of the particle are studied in the exterior mean-motion resonance $k_p:k$ with the planet p. We introduce the resonant angle:

$$ \sigma = k\lambda - k_p\lambda_p - (k - k_p)\omega, \quad (1) $$

with $k, k_p \in \mathbb{N}$ and $k > k_p$. In this expression, $\lambda$ and $\omega$ are the mean longitude and the longitude of perihelion of the small body, and $\lambda_p$ is the mean longitude of the planet p. From the Hamiltonian in osculating coordinates, we get the “semi-secular” dynamical system by a perturbative method to first order. The resulting Hamiltonian can be written as:

$$ \mathcal{K}(\Sigma, U, V, \sigma, u) = -\frac{\mu^2}{2(k\Sigma)^2} - n_p k_p \Sigma + \varepsilon \mathcal{K}_1(\Sigma, U, V, \sigma, u), \quad (2) $$

where $\mu$ is the gravitational parameter of the Sun and $n_p$ is the mean motion of the planet p. In that expression, $\varepsilon \mathcal{K}_1$ is the numerically computed average of the perturbative part of the osculating Hamiltonian over the short-period angles. The canonical coordinates used can be written in terms of the usual heliocentric Keplerian elements $(a, e, I, \omega, \Omega, M)$ of the particle:

$$ \left\{ \begin{array}{l} \Sigma = \sqrt{\mu a}/k \\ U = \sqrt{\mu a} (\sqrt{1 - e^2} - k_p/k) \\ V = \sqrt{\mu a} (\sqrt{1 - e^2} \cos I - k_p/k) \end{array} \right. \quad (3) $$

along with their conjugated angles $\sigma$ and $(u, v) = (\omega, \Omega)$. Since the Hamiltonian (2) does not depend on $v$, the quantity $V$ is a semi-secular constant of motion. The pairs of coordinates $(\Sigma, \sigma)$ and $(U, u)$ evolve generally on very different timescales, so we can use the adiabatic approximation to reduce the system to a single degree of freedom. The “secular” Hamiltonian function writes finally:

$$ \mathcal{F}(J, U, V, u) = \mathcal{K}(\Sigma_0, U, V, \sigma_0, u), \quad (4) $$

where $(\Sigma_0, \sigma_0)$ represents any point of the level curve of $\mathcal{K}$ for $(U, u)$ fixed which encloses the signed area $2\pi J$. The momentum $J$ is a secular constant of motion, related to the oscillation amplitude of $(\Sigma, \sigma)$. It is negative if the particle evolves inside the resonance island. Since the secular system has only one degree of freedom, the dynamics can be described by the level curves of (4) in the plane $(U, u)$ with $V$ and $J$ as parameters.

The interpretation of these level curves is helped by the choice of a “reference semi-major axis” $a_0$ for the resonance considered. Indeed, the constant $V$ can be replaced by:

$$ \eta_0 = V / \sqrt{\mu a_0} + k_p / k = \sqrt{1 - \tilde{e}^2} \cos \tilde{I}, \quad (5) $$

where $\tilde{e}$ and $\tilde{I}$ are called the “reference” eccentricity and inclination. In simple words, these variables are equal to the secular elements of the particle when its semi-major axis is equal to $a_0$. Then, the variable $U$ is equivalent to the reference perihelion distance $\tilde{q} = a_0(1 - \tilde{e})$. The level curves of (4) can be plotted in the plane $(\tilde{q}, \omega)$ which is much more self-explanatory than its canonical counterpart $(U, u)$.

In the following, this model is applied considering the four giant planets of the solar system, the mass of the inner ones being added to the Sun. The secular parameters $(\eta_0, J)$ of the objects studied in this paper are computed using the method described in the following section. They are gathered in Table 1, along with the constants $a_0$ chosen. The current positions $(\omega, \tilde{q})$ of the objects are also given.

### 2.2. Determination of the secular parameters

In the previous section, we described the changes of coordinates leading to the resonant secular model. The problem is to compute this set of coordinates for a given object, for which only the osculating coordinates are known. The standard procedure consists in digitally filtering the output of a medium-term numerical integration, thus removing the short-period component of the trajectory as we did in the semi-analytical theory. The detailed procedure was introduced by Carpino et al. (1987) and implemented in the OrbFit Software Package<fnref n="1" />. For all the objects studied in this article, a 500 000-year numerical integration was found more than enough to cover the semi-secular oscillations (related to the resonant angle). The numerical integrations were made using the same software package, taking the nominal orbits given by AstDyS database<fnref n="2" /> as initial conditions. The four giant planets were integrated consistently and the masses of the inner ones were added to the Sun. The invariable plane of the solar system was taken as reference plane for the output. We used heliocentric coordinates, as this is the system on which is based the semi-analytical theory<fnref n="3" />.

The secular values of $(U, V, u)$ can be directly picked up from the filtered series, whereas the parameter $J$ requires the computation of the area enclosed by the trajectory in the $(\Sigma, \sigma)$ plane. Figure 1 shows some examples of filtered output, with the graphical representation of the corresponding areas $2\pi J$. In the background, the level curves of (2) with $(U, u)$ fixed at their secular (that is filtered) current values are also plotted in order to assess the validity of the semi-analytical procedure. The filtered trajectories were always found to follow pretty well the level curves, showing that our simplified and averaged model captures

<footnote n="1">¹ http://adams.dm.unipi.it/orbfit/</footnote>

<footnote n="2">² http://hamilton.dm.unipi.it/astdys/</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³ Since the temporal series obtained are meant to be filtered, the short-period oscillations of the barycentre of the solar system, usually removed by using barycentric coordinates, are not a problem.</footnote>
<table><caption>**Table 1.** Trans-Neptunian objects studied in this paper.</caption><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>k<sub>p</sub>:k</th><th>LY07</th><th>GL08</th><th>GL12</th><th>SH16</th><th>BA16</th><th>a<sub>0</sub></th><th>η<sub>0</sub></th><th>-2πJ</th><th>ω</th><th>q̃</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2001 KG<sub>76</sub></td><td>4:9</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>51.718</td><td>0.939</td><td>0.02</td><td>2.668</td><td>34.017</td></tr><tr><td>(42301) 2001 UR<sub>163</sub></td><td>4:9</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>51.719</td><td>0.958</td><td>0.04</td><td>6.148</td><td>36.974</td></tr><tr><td>(95625) 2002 GX<sub>32</sub></td><td>3:7</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>52.987</td><td>0.901</td><td>0.07</td><td>3.359</td><td>33.146</td></tr><tr><td>2002 CZ<sub>248</sub></td><td>3:7</td><td></td><td></td><td>★</td><td></td><td></td><td>52.987</td><td>0.919</td><td>0.026</td><td>5.252</td><td>32.413</td></tr><tr><td>(131696) 2001 XT<sub>254</sub></td><td>3:7</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td>★</td><td></td><td></td><td>52.988</td><td>0.946</td><td>0.04</td><td>3.294</td><td>35.910</td></tr><tr><td>(181867) 1999 CV<sub>118</sub></td><td>3:7</td><td></td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>52.988</td><td>0.949</td><td>0.04</td><td>2.650</td><td>37.493</td></tr><tr><td>(79978) 1999 CC<sub>158</sub></td><td>5:12</td><td></td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>53.991</td><td>0.904</td><td>0.017</td><td>1.841</td><td>39.096</td></tr><tr><td>(119878) 2002 CY<sub>224</sub></td><td>5:12</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>53.991</td><td>0.896</td><td>0.011</td><td>2.689</td><td>35.275</td></tr><tr><td>(84522) 2002 TC<sub>302</sub></td><td>2:5</td><td></td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55.474</td><td>0.784</td><td>0.13</td><td>1.585</td><td>39.002</td></tr><tr><td>(26375) 1999 DE<sub>9</sub></td><td>2:5</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55.478</td><td>0.897</td><td>0.18</td><td>2.884</td><td>32.283</td></tr><tr><td>(60621) 2000 FE<sub>8</sub></td><td>2:5</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td>★</td><td></td><td></td><td>55.479</td><td>0.909</td><td>0.05</td><td>2.739</td><td>33.109</td></tr><tr><td>(38084) 1999 HB<sub>12</sub></td><td>2:5</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55.480</td><td>0.890</td><td>0.105</td><td>1.052</td><td>32.615</td></tr><tr><td>2004 KZ<sub>18</sub></td><td>2:5</td><td></td><td></td><td>★</td><td></td><td></td><td>55.480</td><td>0.847</td><td>0.0015</td><td>0.136</td><td>34.310</td></tr><tr><td>2004 EG<sub>96</sub></td><td>2:5</td><td>★</td><td></td><td>★</td><td></td><td></td><td>55.481</td><td>0.871</td><td>0.045</td><td>0.185</td><td>32.110</td></tr><tr><td>2002 GP<sub>32</sub></td><td>2:5</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td>★</td><td></td><td></td><td>55.481</td><td>0.907</td><td>0.0013</td><td>0.463</td><td>32.081</td></tr><tr><td>2000 SR<sub>331</sub></td><td>2:5</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55.481</td><td>0.896</td><td>0.023</td><td>3.812</td><td>31.157</td></tr><tr><td>(143707) 2003 UY<sub>117</sub></td><td>2:5</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55.481</td><td>0.899</td><td>0.064</td><td>1.895</td><td>32.510</td></tr><tr><td>(135571) 2002 GG<sub>32</sub></td><td>2:5</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55.481</td><td>0.907</td><td>0.03</td><td>4.140</td><td>35.905</td></tr><tr><td>(69988) 1998 WA<sub>31</sub></td><td>2:5</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55.481</td><td>0.890</td><td>0.12</td><td>5.571</td><td>31.581</td></tr><tr><td>(119068) 2001 KC<sub>77</sub></td><td>2:5</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55.482</td><td>0.913</td><td>0.24</td><td>3.239</td><td>35.455</td></tr><tr><td>2004 HO<sub>79</sub></td><td>2:5</td><td></td><td></td><td>★</td><td></td><td></td><td>55.482</td><td>0.907</td><td>0.08</td><td>2.359</td><td>32.507</td></tr><tr><td>2001 XQ<sub>254</sub></td><td>2:5</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55.484</td><td>0.894</td><td>0.19</td><td>0.189</td><td>31.089</td></tr><tr><td>2015 GP<sub>50</sub></td><td>2:5</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2012 FH<sub>84</sub></td><td>2:5</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>(82075) 2000 YW<sub>134</sub></td><td>3:8</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>57.920</td><td>0.909</td><td>0.00035</td><td>5.489</td><td>41.146</td></tr><tr><td>2004 XR<sub>190</sub></td><td>3:8</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2015 FJ<sub>345</sub></td><td>1:3</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>×</td><td></td><td>62.649</td><td>0.809</td><td>0.065</td><td>1.391</td><td>50.905</td></tr><tr><td>(136120) 2003 LG<sub>7</sub></td><td>1:3</td><td>★</td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>62.660</td><td>0.817</td><td>0.5</td><td>5.913</td><td>32.483</td></tr><tr><td>2015 KH<sub>162</sub></td><td>1:3</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2013 FQ<sub>28</sub></td><td>1:3</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>(160148) 2001 KV<sub>76</sub></td><td>2:7</td><td></td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>69.430</td><td>0.835</td><td>0.076</td><td>4.098</td><td>34.421</td></tr><tr><td>(126619) 2002 CX<sub>154</sub></td><td>3:11</td><td></td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2014 FC<sub>69</sub></td><td>3:11</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2014 FZ<sub>71</sub></td><td>1:4</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>×</td><td></td><td>75.900</td><td>0.860</td><td>0.035</td><td>4.277</td><td>56.117</td></tr><tr><td>2015 RR<sub>245</sub></td><td>2:9</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>★</td><td>82.100</td><td>0.802</td><td>0.075</td><td>4.360</td><td>33.942</td></tr><tr><td>(26181) 1996 GQ<sub>21</sub></td><td>2:11</td><td></td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2008 ST<sub>291</sub></td><td>1:6</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>×</td><td></td><td>99.453</td><td>0.761</td><td>0.003</td><td>5.721</td><td>42.566</td></tr><tr><td>(184212) 2004 PB<sub>112</sub></td><td>5:27</td><td></td><td>×</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>107.575</td><td>0.713</td><td>0.0055</td><td>0.158</td><td>35.392</td></tr></tbody></table>

**Notes.** The resonance ratios $k_p:k$ are all with Neptune. The references used are abbreviated in LY07 (Lykawka & Mukai 2007), GL08 (Gladman et al. 2008), GL12 (Gladman et al. 2012), SH16 (Sheppard et al. 2016) and BA16 (Bannister et al. 2016). A cross indicates that the object is classified as “resonant”; a star indicates that the article provides also the oscillation amplitude of the resonant angle with its uncertainty. In LY07 and GL12, the star is omitted if the classification is said “insecure”. The right part of the table gives the characteristics of the resonant secular models obtained in this paper: $a_0$ is the reference semi-major axis chosen (au) whereas $\eta_0$ (no unit) and $-2\pi J$ (au$^2$ rad$^2$ yr$^{-1}$) are the fixed parameters. Finally, $\omega$ (rad) and $\tilde{q}$ (au) are the current secular argument of perihelion and reference perihelion distance of the object (see Sect. 2.1). Blank fields mean that the object was found non-resonant in the numerical integration starting from the nominal orbit given by AstDyS database. In the particular case of 2014 FZ$_{71}$, a secular model was developed although the nominal orbital solution was not resonant (see Sect. 3.3). In theory, the 1-sigma error bars would allow it also for 2015 GP$_{50}$, 2012 FH$_{84}$ and 2013 FQ$_{28}$.
<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

**Fig. 1.** Computation of the secular constant of motion *J* from the filtered numerical integration. The examples shown are (from top to bottom): 82075, 119068, 2008 ST<sub>291</sub> and 136120. See Table 1 for the corresponding resonances. The axes are the resonant angle σ from Eq. (1) (rad), and its conjugated momentum Σ from Eq. (3) (au<sup>2</sup> rad yr<sup>-1</sup>). The blue crosses come from the filtered output, whereas the red hatched area is equal to the quantity -2π*J* used to construct the secular model. The black lines in the background are the level curves of (2) with (*U*, *u*) fixed. Various cases are shown: **a)**, **c)** small area; **b)**, **d)** large area; **a)**, **b)** single resonance island; **c)**, **d)** double resonance island; **a)**, **b)** simple oscillations; **c)** asymmetric oscillations; **d)** horseshoe oscillations.

the essence of the dynamics. The characteristics of the corre-
sponding secular models are gathered in Table 1. The oscillation
amplitudes of the resonant angles were generally found to be in
very good agreement with the values given in Lykawka & Mukai
(2007) and Gladman et al. (2012).

In our numerical integrations, some objects were found out-
side the expected resonances (blank lines in Table 1). Apart
from two exceptions, this concerns small bodies reported by
Sheppard et al. (2016) which are not classified as “resonant”
from their current orbit but from their probable dynamical his-
tory. For these objects, a secular model near the resonance could
still be developed (in which 2πJ is the area under the curve), or
the uncertainties of the nominal orbit could be taken into account
to develop a secular model for a “potential” resonant orbit. This
will be realised for 2014 FZ<sub>71</sub>.

**3. General results**

**3.1. Typical resonant secular evolutions**

Most of the objects studied in this paper are not very affected
by their resonant relation with Neptune: this results in a “flat”

secular evolution, with circulating ω and almost constant ṋ. Such
a secular behaviour is similar to what we would obtain for a
non-resonant dynamics (where the only notable features are lo-
cated at high inclinations). Some examples of level curves of
the secular Hamiltonian (4) are shown in Fig. 2. The graphs are
π-periodic in ω. The vast majority of objects studied in this paper
follow these typical secular trajectories, with the exception of
the objects 135571, 2004 KZ<sub>18</sub>, 2008 ST<sub>291</sub>, 82075, 2015 FJ<sub>345</sub>
and 2014 FZ<sub>71</sub>, which we describe in Sects. 3.2 and 3.3. In or-
der to check the validity of the adiabatic approximation, each
graph also features a numerical integration of the two-degree-of-
freedom semi-secular system. As required, the mean trajectory
follows a level curve of the secular Hamiltonian. The extra os-
cillations due to the second degree of freedom are even almost
undistinguishable, hidden in the curve width. Figure 2a presents
the most common case: the parameters of the secular model do
not allow any peculiar geometry, and the specific level curve fol-
lowed by the particle has nothing special either. In Fig. 2b, the
particle is pushed outside of the resonance island in some por-
tions of its trajectory. This does not affect the overall secular
dynamics though, since it re-enters the resonance with a simi-
lar parameter *J*. Finally, Fig. 2c presents a “missed” interesting
case: the parameters of the secular model do allow important
variations of the orbital elements but the particle is located on a
flat level curve, outside of any libration island.

**3.2. Objects affected by secular libration islands**

The object 135571, presented in Fig. 3a, is the only one show-
ing a retrograde circulation of ω. Indeed, it follows a level curve
located above the two maxima of the secular Hamiltonian (4). It
is also very close to the separatrix: a small chaotic diffusion (or
a refinement of the orbital solution) could easily put it inside the
secular libration island. The object 2004 KZ<sub>18</sub>, on the other hand,
is clearly located in the island (Fig. 3b). This smooth quasi-
periodic trajectory may not be “permanent”, however, since it in-
volves small perihelion distances. Indeed, the neighbouring reso-
nances have a large width and a chaotic drift out of the resonance
is a serious risk.

Figure 3c shows the case of 2008 ST<sub>291</sub> which is associated with a much more distant resonance. The resonant angle σ oscillates in an asymmetric libration island (Fig. 1c), which results in a secular Hamiltonian with level curves that are also asymmetric. 2008 ST<sub>291</sub> is located inside a secular libration island, confining ω around a fixed value and producing large-amplitude oscillations of the perihelion distance. The object is on the descending part of the trajectory, implying that it has completed at least one cycle (period of about 115 Myr). However, we note that 2008 ST<sub>291</sub> has still uncertain orbital elements: Sheppard et al. (2016) reported clones evolving from *q* ≈ 35 to 60 au. These limits can be roughly measured in Fig. 3c, according to the position of the separatrix with respect to the object.

Finally we can also mention the object 82075, presented in
Fig. 3d, which does not interact directly with a secular libra-
tion island but which is located on a level curve producing rather
large variations of orbital elements (circulation of ω and oscilla-
tions of ṁ from about 38 to 44 au).

**3.3. Regular-by-part secular dynamics**

The object 2015 FJ₃₄₅ presents the most interesting secular dy-
namics. Figure 4a shows that it is currently located in the single-
island region of the 1:3 resonance (that is above the “green
<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

**Fig. 2.** Typical examples of phase portraits for the objects studied in this paper. The colour shades represent the value of the secular Hamiltonian (dark/light for low/high), from which can be deduced the direction of motion along the level curves (black lines). The white zones are forbidden by the value of the parameter $\eta_0$ (it would require a cosine of inclination larger than 1), and the grey zones are forbidden by the value of the parameter $J$ (the resonance island is too narrow to contain the signed area $2\pi J$). The green cross represents the current position of the object, and the red curve comes from a numerical integration of the two-degree-of-freedom semi-secular system. The names are written above the graphs (see Table 1 for the parameters of the models). On the graph **b**), the secular trajectory of 79 978 forces periodically $\sigma$ to circulate when the curve enters the grey zone (separatrix crossing). The numerical integration shows that this does not significantly affect the overall dynamics (red curve). The graph **c**) shows that 60621 follows a “flat” trajectory even if the parameters of the model could allow interesting variations of orbital elements. The behaviour of the object 2004 EG96 (not shown) is very similar to that of 60621, but it follows a level curve much closer to the secular separatrix (lying just above the red curve). A small diffusion of its orbital elements (or a refinement of its orbital solution) could thus put it on a level curve leading to much higher perihelion distances.

line”), but on a level curve coming from and leading to discontinuous transitions. Hence, its perihelion distance was probably raised from the double-island region (below the green line), starting much closer to Neptune, on a secular trajectory leading to the transition. The resonant secular model can be used to reconstruct the detailed scenario: following the secular level curve of 2015 FJ345 backwards (towards the left), its intersection with the grey zone gives its location when it was ejected from the vanishing resonance island. At this point, the total area available in this island gives the parameter $J$ to be used in a secular model describing the previous portion of the secular dynamics. Proceeding this way, we suppose that on a secular timescale, the separatrix crossings can be considered as instantaneous. A chaotic extra change of $J$ should be expected in the real case (depending on the exact phase of $\Sigma$ and $\sigma$ at the moment of the crossing), but it is expected to be negligible if the adiabatic approximation is well verified. The area measured is $2\pi J \approx -0.0115 \text{ au}^2 \text{ rad}^2 \text{ yr}^{-1}$, which is quite small since the separatrix crossing happened near

the green line (blue spot in Fig. 4a). The corresponding previous secular trajectory is shown in Fig. 4b. Surprisingly, we find once again a trajectory coming from and leading to a transition, without any passage to smaller perihelion distances, where the resonance capture with Neptune could have occurred. We use the same method to get the secular trajectory before this second transition (green spot in Fig. 4b). The level curves of the corresponding secular Hamiltonian are presented in Fig. 4c: we finally get a secular trajectory leading to much lower perihelion distances (at least below $\tilde{q} = 35$ au, depending on the exact level curve followed by the particle), where the capture in resonance with Neptune probably occurred.

Since the overall trajectory is rather complicated, Fig. 5 sums up the three components by showing a numerical integration of the two-degree-of-freedom semi-secular system. We started from a position $(\omega, \tilde{q})$ on the level curve of Fig. 4c, as a potential position of capture in resonance with Neptune (black spot). The two separatrix crossings were found to be a bit sensitive to
<figure><img src="image_4.png" /></figure>

**Fig. 3.** Phase portraits of the objects affected by secular libration islands. On the graph **a**), the object 135571 is the only one found to have a retrograde circulation of ω. On the graph **b**), the secular evolution of 2004 KZ<sub>18</sub> inside the mean-motion resonance makes ω oscillate around 0. On the graph **c**), there are two distinct regions according to the topology of the semi-secular phase-space, since the resonance of 2008 ST<sub>291</sub> is of type 1:k. Below the green line, the resonance island is doubled (as in Fig. 1c, d) resulting in asymmetric level curves. Above the green line, only one resonance island remains (as in Fig. 1a, b) and the level curves are symmetric. If the line is crossed, there can be either a discontinuity (thick green line) if the particle is located in the vanishing island, or a smooth transition (dotted green line) if it is located in the persisting island.

the initial phase chosen for σ and Σ, so we tried different values distributed all along the level curve of the semi-secular Hamiltonian. The grey trajectories in Fig. 5 give an idea of the range of possible behaviours. Roughly half of the integrated trajectories were found to follow qualitatively the scenario from Fig. 4 (the red curve is one example of them). As predicted, the trajectory ends up near the observed position of 2015 FJ<sub>345</sub>, showing that this scenario is dynamically possible. This also gives the timescale involved, which counts in Myrs. In the future, 2015 FJ<sub>345</sub> is expected to go on with these types of transitions, possibly turning back to small perihelion distances. In particular, it is possible that several loops already occurred between its capture in resonance and its observed position. It could also stay

in a resonant high-perihelion state for Gyrs if it has triggered a “high-perihelion trapping mechanism” (Saillenfest et al. 2017). The orbital uncertainties, though, prevent from any definitive conclusion.

As discussed by Sheppard et al. (2016), such a mechanism is probably also responsible for the high perihelion distance of 2014 FZ<sub>71</sub> even if this object is not found currently in resonance (according to its nominal orbit). Consequently, it could have been left in its current position at the end of Neptune’s migration (Gomes et al. 2005, 2008), or its resonant secular dynamics itself could have pushed it out of the resonance separrices. We studied this last scenario by a close-to-resonance secular model (Saillenfest et al. 2016), but no interaction at all with
<figure><img src="image_5.png" /></figure>

**Fig. 4.** Level curves of the secular Hamiltonian for the current and past evolution of the object 2015 FJ345. Three smooth trajectories are considered, divided by separatrix crossings. The constant parameter $\eta_0$ is given in Table 1, whereas $2\pi J$ is given above the graphs (au$^2$ rad$^2$ yr$^{-1}$). The current orbital elements of 2015 FJ345 result in the leftmost phase portrait **a**). Contrary to previous graphs, the secondary oscillations of the semi-secular trajectory (red curve) are noticeable. The secular trajectory (mean curve), though, follows still pretty well the level curves given by the model. Starting from the current position of 2015 FJ345 (blue cross), the red curve is drawn until it reaches a change of the resonance topology (from a single to a double island), on the green line. Following the level curve towards the left (past evolution), the blue spot represents the position of the previous separatrix crossing undergone by 2015 FJ345. The middle graph **b**) shows the secular model for the past evolution of 2015 FJ345. The blue spot represents its position at the transition to its current state (same as graph **a**)). Following the level curve downwards (past evolution), the green spot shows the position of the previous separatrix crossing undergone by 2015 FJ345. The rightmost graph **c**) presents the secular model for the earlier evolution of 2015 FJ345. The green spot shows its position at the transition to the next part of the trajectory (same as graph **b**)). Following the level curve downwards (past evolution), the black spot is taken as initial condition for a numerical integration (see text and Fig. 5).

<figure><img src="image_6.png" /></figure>

**Fig. 5.** Numerical integration of the two-degree-of-freedom semi-secular system. The initial conditions (origin of the time and black spot on the right) are taken according to the level curves plotted in Fig. 4c. On the right, the evolution of the couple (U, u) is drawn (with q instead of U, obtained by inverting Eq. (3)). Several initial phases for (σ, Σ) were tried, leading to secular trajectories diverging at the first separatrix crossing (grey curves). Among them, the red trajectory is in agreement with our backward reconstruction: its second transition occurs on the blue spot, and it passes near the current position of 2015 FJ345 (to be compared with the level curves from Fig. 4). On the left, the evolution of the couple (σ, Σ) is represented for the red trajectory (with a instead of Σ). The two separatrix crossings, leading to a change of oscillation island, are easily noticeable. The bottom graph presents the evolution of the area $2\pi J$ for all the trajectories plotted on the right, showing the divergence at the first transition. Even if $2\pi J$ is plotted as a continuous line, remember that its definition changes after each transition (different resonance island).

the resonance was detected (flat level curves). The migration of Neptune set apart, 2014 FZ71 is thus probably much closer to the resonance than its current best-fit orbit seems to indicate. Actually, the uncertainties are even compatible with a trapping in resonance (as already reported by Sheppard et al. 2016). As

shown in Fig. 6, the semi-major axis of 2014 FZ71 can be slightly modified (at the 1-sigma level) to enter the resonance. If we change only the value of a, the minimum area $2\pi J$ in the case of resonance is equal to -0.035 au$^2$ rad$^2$ yr$^{-1}$ (red hatched region in Fig. 6). The corresponding resonant secular model is
<figure><img src="image_7.png" /></figure>

**Fig. 6.** Semi-secular phase portrait of 2014 FZ<sub>71</sub>. On the right axis, the values of *a* corresponding to Σ are shown. The blue crosses come from the filtered output of the full non-averaged numerical integration (same as Fig. 1), with the current position of 2014 FZ<sub>71</sub> on the big spot. For comparison, the 1-sigma error bar of the (osculating) orbital solution is added. The uncertainty is compatible with the red hatched area inside the resonance, from which we get a possible value of the parameter *J*. The same method was used in Saillenfest et al. (2017), but it was not restricted to the uncertainty ranges.

presented in Fig. 7a: we get a geometry very similar to what
we obtained for 2015 FJ<sub>345</sub>, indicating that an analogous long-
term resonant evolution probably occurred. Following the level
curve towards the past, the second resonance island has a to-
tal area of −0.00205 au<sup>2</sup> rad<sup>2</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup> on the transition line, which
gives the secular model represented in Fig. 7b. This time, we di-
rectly obtain a trajectory leading to much smaller perihelion dis-
tances (~38.5 au), compatible with the numerical experiments
by Sheppard et al. (2016). The parameter η<sub>0</sub> puts a lower limit
on the reachable perihelion distance (independently of the sepa-
ratrix crossings encountered): this limit is equal to about 37 au
and corresponds to Ī = 0. This is quite high for a resonant cap-
ture (since a diffusion of *a* is necessary), but that argument was
used by Sheppard et al. (2016) to state that 2014 FZ<sub>71</sub> possibly
originated in the Scattered Disc.

**4. Discussion and conclusion**

A one-degree-of-freedom secular model was used to study the
long-term dynamics of the known trans-Neptunian objects in res-
onance with Neptune, with semi-major axes larger than 50 au.
This method allows us to visualise their long-term trajectories
in the plane (ω, q), in which the notable features (equilibrium
points, libration islands, separatrices) can be located. Accord-
ing to the model, most of them experience virtually no change
of perihelion distance, indicating a small influence of the res-
onance on their long-term dynamics. Indeed, the resonant link
can never bring them away from their capture configurations, re-
sulting in unstable transient resonances. This is confirmed for
2015 RR<sub>245</sub> by the detailed dynamical study by Bannister et al.
(2016). If an object was left on a distant resonant trajectory by
the late migration of Neptune, on the contrary, the constancy of
its secular perihelion distance would be a guarantee of stability
(Gomes et al. 2008).

On the other hand, four objects are located near notable fea-
tures of the phase portraits:

- Locked in the 2:5 resonance, 135571 evolves very close to secular libration islands and shows a retrograde (or possibly oscillatory) evolution of $\omega$.

- In the same resonance, 2004 KZ<sub>18</sub> is located near the centre of a libration island at $\omega = 0$ (a perfect secular evolution would produce very small oscillations of $\omega$ around 0).

- The object 82075 (3:8 resonance) shows oscillations of the perihelion distance from 38 to 44 au (with circulating $\omega$).

- In the more distant 1:6 resonance, 2008 ST<sub>291</sub> evolves in a wide asymmetric libration island centred at $\omega \approx 117^\circ$, resulting in oscillations of $q$ from 39 to 55 au.

The resonance captures of 135571 and 2004 KZ<sub>18</sub> probably oc-
curred in the lowest part of their secular trajectories (smallest
perihelion distances). However, since their dynamics are quasi-
periodic, they will regularly return to their entrance configura-
tions, leading to possible expulsions. On the other hand, the min-
imum perihelion distances reachable by 82075 and 2008 ST<sub>291</sub>
seem a bit high to be considered as capture locations. This
led Lykawka & Mukai (2007) to classify 82075 as “detached”,
whereas the orbital uncertainties of 2008 ST<sub>291</sub> prevent us from
reaching a definitive conclusion.

The cases of 2015 FJ<sub>345</sub> and 2014 FZ<sub>71</sub> are more complicated (1:3 and 1:4 resonances). Indeed, they follow secular trajectories leading to separatrix crossings, which makes necessary the use of piecewise secular models. Following the level curves backwards, possible scenarios can be retraced from their capture into resonance to their current positions. They require one or more resonant transitions (passage from one resonance island to the other) and lead to much smaller perihelion distances. However, the separatrix crossings are actually not instantaneous (their exact outcomes depend on the phase at the time of transition), leading to potential trajectories significantly different than the reconstructed ones. This holds especially for these two objects, which present a substantial departure from the adiabatic approximation. Nevertheless, the scenarios presented here are dynamically possible (as shown by numerical integrations): they can be considered as the ones producing the shortest paths from capture into resonance to the observed positions.

The method gives also a precise idea of what type of trajec-
tory can be followed by a given object. This allows us to distin-
guish which orbits could have been created by a resonant link
with Neptune on its current orbit, and which ones have a more
complex history (involving the planetary migration or another
source of perturbation). The fixed value of V, or equivalently the
approximate constancy<fnref n="4" /> of $\sqrt{1 - e^2} \cos I$ used by some authors
(Gomes et al. 2008; Sheppard et al. 2016), gives only an upper
bound for the variations in perihelion distance (white regions in
our figures). Indeed, an object could very well be detached, but
with a parameter *V* allowing in principle any eccentricity and in-
clination. Consider for instance, a particle located on the highest
level curve drawn in Fig. 4c.

We did not try to obtain similar graphs for 2004 XR<sub>190</sub>
since its location out-of-resonance is securely assessed. Its cur-
rent position is pretty well explained by an analogous resonant

<footnote n="4">⁴ Strictly speaking, the quantity $\sqrt{1 - e^2} \cos I$ is constant only in a non-resonant secular model. The analogous constant in the resonant case is $V = \sqrt{\mu a} (\sqrt{1 - e^2} \cos I - k_p/k)$, but since the particle is trapped in resonance, *a* is never far from some given value.</footnote>
<figure><img src="image_8.png" /></figure>

**Fig. 7.** Level curves of the secular Hamiltonian for the current and past evolution of the object 2014 FZ<sub>71</sub>. Two smooth trajectories are considered, divided by a separatrix crossing. The constant parameter η<sub>0</sub> is given in Table 1, whereas 2πJ is given above the graphs (au<sup>2</sup> rad<sup>2</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup>). The current orbital elements of 2014 FZ<sub>71</sub> result in the left phase portrait **a**. Following the level curve towards the left (past evolution), the blue spot shows the position of the previous separatrix crossing undergone by 2014 FZ<sub>71</sub>. The right graph **b** presents the secular model for the past evolution of 2014 FZ<sub>71</sub>. The blue spot shows its position at the transition to its current state (same as graph **a**).

evolution, but occurring during the late migration of Neptune
(Gomes 2011).

Finally, we would like to point out that for all objects ex-
cept 2014 FZ<sub>71</sub>, the secular parameters were obtained from the
nominal orbital solutions (through the filtered numerical inte-
gration). Consequently, the actual parameters could be quite dif-
ferent, especially for the recently discovered objects. The cor-
responding changes concern mostly the parameter *J*, which is
sensitive to the initial conditions. For instance, a slight increase
of the area |2πJ| leads to a wider coverage of the “grey” zones
(on the sides of which separatrix crossings occur). This should
not affect our general conclusions, though: for instance, a slight
change of orbital elements would leave 2015 FJ<sub>345</sub> in the high-
perihelion region and on a trajectory coming from a much lower
perihelion distance. If ever it turns out to be currently out of the
resonance, the migration of Neptune could also be invoked (same
type of trajectory, but in an earlier stage of the solar system).

***Acknowledgements.*** This work was partly funded by Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL). We thank the anonymous referee for her/his detailed comments which led to a much better version of the article.

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