(15760) 1992 QB1

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The correct title of this article is (15760) 1992 QB1. It features superscript or subscript characters that are substituted or omitted because of technical limitations.
(15760) 1992 QB1
Discovery
Discovered by David C. Jewitt,
Jane X. Luu
Discovery date August 30, 1992
Designations
Alternative names none
Minor planet
category		 Trans-Neptunian object
(cubewano)
Epoch August 18, 2005 (JD 2453600.5)
Aphelion 46.5925 AU
Perihelion 40.8754 AU
Semi-major axis 43.7339 AU
Eccentricity 0.0654
Orbital period 289.225 a
Average orbital speed 4.4990 km/s
Mean anomaly 14.5829°
Inclination 2.1927°
Longitude of ascending node 359.4575°
Argument of perihelion 2.1541°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 160 km[1]
Mass ?×10? kg
Mean density ? g/cm³
Equatorial surface gravity ? m/s²
Escape velocity ? km/s
Rotation period ? d
Albedo ~ .07
Temperature ~? K
Spectral type ?
Absolute magnitude 7.2

(15760) 1992 QB1 (also written (15760) 1992 QB1) was the first trans-Neptunian object to be discovered after Pluto and Charon. It was discovered in 1992 and is now classified as a cubewano, an object in the main Kuiper Belt. The term cubewano derives from "Q B one oh".

(15760) 1992 QB1 was discovered by David C. Jewitt and Jane X. Luu at the Mauna Kea Observatory, Hawaii. The discoverers suggested the name "Smiley" for the object [1], but as there is already an asteroid named 1613 Smiley (named after an American astronomer) the name could not be used. The asteroid has received the number 15760, and remains unnamed; it is normally referred to simply as "QB1" (this is ambiguous, as it could refer to any of five other numbered asteroids —(5322) 1986 QB1, (7026) 1993 QB1, (31114) 1997 QB1, (36447) 2000 QB1, and (52468) 1995 QB1— and a great number of unnumbered ones). It was the start of the end of Pluto so called being "Special."

[edit] References

  1. ^ List of known trans-Neptunian objects

[edit] External links

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