The Trans-Neptunian Object (84922) 2003 VS<SUB>2</SUB> through Stellar Occultations

We present results from three world-wide campaigns that resulted in the detections of two single-chord and one multi-chord stellar occultations by the plutino object (84922) 2003 VS<SUB>2</SUB>. From the single-chord occultations in 2013 and 2014 we obtained accurate astrometric positions for the object, while from the multi-chord occultation on 2014 November 7, we obtained the parameters of the best-fitting ellipse to the limb of the body at the time of occultation. We also obtained short-term photometry data for the body in order to derive its rotational phase during the occultation. The rotational light curve present a peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.141 ± 0.009 mag. This allows us to reconstruct the 3D shape of the body, with principal semi-axes of a = 313.8 ± 7.1 km, b={265.5}<SUB>-9.8</SUB><SUP>+8.8</SUP> km, and c={247.3}<SUB>-43.6</SUB><SUP>+26.6</SUP> km, which is not consistent with a Jacobi triaxial equilibrium figure. The derived spherical volume equivalent diameter of {548.3}<SUB>-44.6</SUB><SUP>+29.5</SUP> km is about 5% larger than the radiometric diameter of 2003 VS<SUB>2</SUB> derived from Herschel data of 523 ± 35 km, but still compatible with it within error bars. From those results we can also derive the geometric albedo ({0.123}<SUB>-0.014</SUB><SUP>+0.015</SUP>) and, under the assumption that the object is a Maclaurin spheroid, the density ρ ={1400}<SUB>-300</SUB><SUP>+1000</SUP> for the plutino. The disappearances and reappearances of the star during the occultations do not show any compelling evidence for a global atmosphere considering a pressure upper limit of about 1 microbar for a pure nitrogen atmosphere, nor secondary features (e.g., rings or satellite) around the main body.