In 2012, the size of 2001 QF298 was estimated based on thermal radiation data obtained with the Herschel Space Telescope. The result was 408.2+40.2 −44.9 km.[6]
In the visible light, the object appears to have a neutral or slightly red color.[7]
Dwarf planet candidate
When first discovered, 2001 QF298 was calculated to have an absolute magnitude (H) of 4.7.[1] Light-curve-amplitude analysis from 2008 showed only small deviations, which suggested that 2001 QF298 could be a spheroid about 480 kilometres (300 mi) in diameter with small albedo spots and hence a dwarf planet.[8] It is not included in the same authors' list of dwarf-planet candidates from 2010 because, having an absolute magnitude of 5.4 and assumed albedo of 0.1, it would be less than the cut-off size of 450 kilometres (280 mi)[9] (the same criteria as in the first paper).[8]
^ abTancredi, G., & Favre, S. (2008) Which are the dwarfs in the Solar System?. Depto. Astronomía, Fac. Ciencias, Montevideo, Uruguay; Observatorio Astronómico Los Molinos, MEC, Uruguay. Retrieved 10-08-2011