2014 YA50

2014 YA50
Discovery[1][2]
Discovered byPan-STARRS 1
Discovery date25 December 2014
Designations
2014 YA50
Orbital characteristics[3][5]
Epoch 2025 November 21 (JD 2461000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 2[1]
Observation arc23.12 yr (8,445 days)
Earliest precovery date19 March 2002 [1]
Aphelion54.29 AU
Perihelion38.6055 AU
46.4477 AU
Eccentricity0.1688
316.559 yr (110,200 days)
318.863°
0.003 0° 0m 11.772s / day
Inclination23.907°
45.28797°
≈ 23 January 2062[6]
193.818°
Known satellites0
Physical characteristics
595 km?[4]
20.7[7]

2014 YA50 is a medium-sized trans-Neptunian object orbiting the Sun as a classical Kuiper Belt object in the outer reaches of the Solar System. The object was discovered on 25 December 2014 by Pan-STARRS 1, at the Haleakala Observatory in Hawaii, United States, but the discovery was announced on 16 July 2016.[2] Michael E. Brown suggested that 2014 YA50 is large enough that it could be a dwarf planet,[8] however transneptunian bodies smaller than 900–1,000 km are unlikely to be fully solid bodies, and thus not dwarf planets.

It has been observed with precovery images back to 2002.[3]

Description

2014 YA50 orbits the Sun at a distance of 38.6-54.3 AU once every 316.5 years. Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.1688 and an inclination of 24° with respect to the ecliptic.

Using the best-fit values for its orbit, it is expected to come to perihelion in 2062.[3] It has been observed 311 times over 24 years and has an uncertainty parameter of 2.[1] As of 2026, it is 45.677 AU from the Sun.[1][7] The body's spectral type as well as its rotation period remain unknown.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "(2014 YA50)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b "MPEC 2016-O65 : 2014 YA50". IAU Minor Planet Center. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d e "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2014 YA50)" (2025-05-02 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b Johnston, Wm. Robert (19 June 2025). "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  5. ^ Marc W. Buie. "Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for 14YA50" (last observation: 2025-05-02 using 311 of 311 observations over 23 years). SwRI (Space Science Department). Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  6. ^ JPL Horizons Observer Location: @sun (Perihelion occurs when deldot changes from negative to positive.
  7. ^ a b "AstDyS: 2014 YA50 Ephemerides". AstDyS. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  8. ^ Michael E. Brown. "How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system? (updates daily)". California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 17 January 2026.