2014 FE72 is a trans-Neptunian object first observed on 26 March 2014, at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in La Serena, Chile. It is a possible dwarf planet,[5] a member of the scattered disc, whose orbit extends into the inner Oort cloud.[1] Discovered by Scott Sheppard and Chad Trujillo, the object's existence was revealed on 29 August 2016.[1][8] Both the orbital period and aphelion distance of this object are well constrained.[2] 2014 FE72 had the largest barycentric aphelion until 2018. However, the heliocentric aphelion of 2014 FE72 is second among trans-Neptunian objects (after the damocloid 2017 MB7). As of 2023, it is about 66 AU (9.9 billion km) from the Sun.[7]

2014 FE72
Diagram showing the highly eccentric orbit of 2014 FE72
Discovery[1]
Discovered by
Discovery siteCerro Tololo Obs.
Discovery date26 March 2014
Designations
2014 FE72
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 21 January 2022 (JD 2459600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 3
Observation arc6.98 yr (2,549 days)
Aphelion
  • 4052 AU (barycentric)[3]
Perihelion
  • 36.101 AU (barycentric)[3]
  • 2045 AU (barycentric)[3]
Eccentricity
  • 0.9823 (barycentric)[3]
  • 92400 yr (barycentric)[3]
  • 0.219° (barycentric)[3]
0° 0m 0.055s / day
Inclination
  • 20.633° (barycentric)[3]
  • 336.829° (barycentric)[3]
≈ 6 October 1965[4]
±11 days
  • 133.921° (barycentric)[3]
Physical characteristics
270 km (est. at 0.08)[5][6]
24.3[7]
6.19[2]

Orbit

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Using the Solar System Barycenter as the orbital frame of reference, 2014 FE72's extremely elongated orbit (eccentricity = 0.98) has a perihelion of 36.1 AU, an aphelion of ~4,050 AU and a barycentric orbital period of ~92,400 years.[3] The latter values are the largest known for any Solar System body that is not a long-period comet.[n 1] Based on the barycentric orbital period, 2014 FE72 takes roughly 5 times longer than Sedna to orbit the Sun.[10]

2014 FE72 last passed through perihelion around late 1965.[2]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 2017 MB7, an apparently much smaller object (absolute magnitude ~14) which might be an extinct comet, has a similar barycentric aphelion of ~2,800 AU and an orbital period of ~54,000 years.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Williams, G. V. (29 August 2016). "MPEC 2016-Q43 : 2014 FE72". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2014 FE72)" (2021-03-18 last obs). Jet Propulsion Lab. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Horizons. "JPL Horizons: Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for 2014 FE72". Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  4. ^ JPL Horizons Observer Location: @sun (Perihelion occurs when deldot changes from negative to positive. Uncertainty in time of perihelion is 3-sigma.)
  5. ^ a b Michael E. Brown. "How many dwarf planets are there in the outer solar system? (updates daily)". California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Absolute magnitude (H)". Near Earth Object Program. NASA/Jet Propulsion Lab. Archived from the original on 2 March 2001. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  7. ^ a b "AstDyS 2014FE72 Ephemerides". Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Italy. Retrieved 31 October 2023. (Distance to Sun [R] from 2023 to 2028.)
  8. ^ "Hunt for ninth planet reveals new extremely distant Solar System objects". CarnegieScience.edu. Carnegie Institution. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  9. ^ JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2017 MB7)
  10. ^ Horizons. "JPL Horizons: Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for (90377) Sedna". Retrieved 12 November 2018.
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