2003 AZ84: Size, shape, albedo and first detection of topographic features

We analyze two multi-chord stellar occultations by the Trans-Neptunian Object (TNO) 2003 AZ84 observed on February 3, 2012 and November 15, 2014.They provide different elliptical limb fits that are consistent to within their respective error bars, but could also suggest a possible precession of the object (assumed here to be a Maclaurin spheroid). The derived equatorial radius and oblateness are R_e = 393 ± 7 km and ɛ = 0.057 in 2014 and R_e = 414 ± 13 km and ɛ = 0.165 in 2012, respectively. Those results are consistent with single-chord events observed in January 2011 and December 2013. The figures above provide geometric visual albedos of p_V(2014) = 0.112 ± 0.008 and p_V(2012) = 0.114 ± 0.020. Using the Maclaurin assumption, combined with possible rotational periods of 6.67 h and 10.56 h, we estimate density upper limits of 1.89 ± 0.16g/cm³ and 0.77 ± 0.07g/cm³ for the two dates, respectively.The 2014 event provides (for the first time during a TNO occultation) a grazing chord with a gradual disappearance of the star behind 2003_AZ84's limb that lasts for more than 10 seconds. We rule out the possibility of a localized dust concentration as it would imply very high optical depth for that cloud. We favor a local topographic feature (chasm) with minimum width and depth of 22 ± 2.5 km and 7 ± 2.0 km, respectively. Features with similar depths are in fact observed on Pluto's main satellite, Charon, which has a radius of about 605 km, comparable to that of 2003_AZ84.