(501581) 2014 OB394, provisional designation 2014 OB394, is a trans-Neptunian object from the outermost region of the Solar System, approximately 260 kilometers (160 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 25 August 2012, by astronomers with the Pan-STARRS survey at Haleakala Observatory, Hawaii, United States.[1] The weak dwarf planet candidate was numbered in 2017 and remains without a name.
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Pan-STARRS 1 |
| Discovery site | Haleakalā Obs. |
| Discovery date | 25 August 2012 |
| Designations | |
| (501581) 2014 OB394 | |
| 2014 OB394 | |
| TNO[2] · other[3] p-DP[4] · distant[1] | |
| Orbital characteristics[2] | |
| Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 3 | |
| Observation arc | 5.08 yr (1,857 d) |
| Aphelion | 58.222 AU |
| Perihelion | 35.036 AU |
| 46.629 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.2486 |
| 318.42 yr (116,302 d) | |
| 353.23° | |
| 0° 0m 11.16s / day | |
| Inclination | 20.739° |
| 8.0853° | |
| 9.7242° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 255 km (est.)[4] 267 km (est.)[3] | |
| 0.08 (assumed)[4] 0.09 (assumed)[3] | |
| 6.1[1][2] | |
Orbit and classification
edit2014 OB394 orbits the Sun at a distance of 35.0–58.2 AU once every 318 years and 5 months (116,302 days; semi-major axis of 46.63 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.25 and an inclination of 21° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] The body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation at Haleakala Observatory in August 2012.[1]
Numbering and naming
editThis minor planet was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 5 October 2017 and received the number 501581 in the minor planet catalog (M.P.C. 106397).[5] As of 2018, it has not been named.[1]
Physical characteristics
editAccording to American astronomer Michael Brown and the Johnston's archive, 2014 OB394 measures 255 and 267 kilometers in diameter based on an assumed albedo of 0.08 and 0.09, respectively.[3][4] On his website, Brown lists this object as a "possible" dwarf planet (200–400 km), which is the category with the lowest certainty in his 5-class taxonomic system.[4] As of 2018, no spectral type and color indices, nor a rotational lightcurve have been obtained from spectroscopic and photometric observations. The body's color, rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[2][6]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "501581 (2014 OB394)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 501581 (2014 OB394)" (2017-09-25 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- ^ a b c d Johnston, Wm. Robert (7 October 2018). "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Brown, Michael E. "How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system?". California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- ^ "LCDB Data for (501581)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 3 December 2018.
External links
edit- MPEC 2016-O53 : 2014 OB394, Minor Planet Electronic Circular, 16 July 2017
- M.P.E.C. statistics for F51 – All MPECs
- List of Transneptunian Objects, Minor Planet Center
- Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (500001)-(505000) – Minor Planet Center
- (501581) 2014 OB394 at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
- (501581) 2014 OB394 at the JPL Small-Body Database