(501581) 2014 OB394

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(501581) 2014 OB394
Discovery[1]
Discovered byPan-STARRS 1
Discovery siteHaleakalā Obs.
Discovery date25 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 arc5.08 yr (1,857 d)
Aphelion58.222 AU
Perihelion35.036 AU
46.629 AU
Eccentricity0.2486
318.42 yr (116,302 d)
353.23°
0° 0m 11.16s / day
Inclination20.739°
8.0853°
9.7242°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
255 km (est.)[4]
267 km (est.)[3]
0.08 (assumed)[4]
0.09 (assumed)[3]
6.1[1][2]

(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.

Orbit and classification[edit]

2014 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[edit]

This 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[edit]

According 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]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "501581 (2014 OB394)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b c d Johnston, Wm. Robert (7 October 2018). "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  6. ^ "LCDB Data for (501581)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 3 December 2018.

External links[edit]