Capture in mean motion resonance has been observed in the Solar System for small objects with prograde as well as retrograde orbits of moderate inclinations . However , no example of an object with a nearly polar orbit was known to be in resonance with a planet . In this Letter , we report that the nearly-polar transneptunian object ( 471325 ) , nicknamed Niku , is in a 7:9 resonance with Neptune , with a mean lifetime in resonance of 16 \pm 11 million years . While entrance and exit in the 7:9 resonance is caused by close encounters with Neptune the resonant configuration provides a temporary protection mechanism against disruptive close encounters with this planet . The other nearly polar transneptunian objects do not seem to be in resonance with the planets with the possible exception of 2008 KV42 , also known as Drac , that has a small chance of being in the 8:13 resonance with Neptune .