2014 MT69

2014 MT69 (internally designated 0720090F in the context of the Hubble Space Telescope, and 7 in the context of the New Horizons mission) is a cold classical Kuiper belt object (KBO) and was formerly a potential flyby target for the New Horizons probe.[3] The object measures approximately 20–90 kilometers (12–56 miles) in diameter.[6][4]

2014 MT69
Discovery image sequence
Discovery [1]
Discovered byNew Horizons KBO Search
Discovery siteHubble Space Telescope
Discovery date24 June 2014
Designations
2014 MT69
0720090F[2] · 7[3][4]
TNO [5] · cubewano [6]
distant [1]
Orbital characteristics [5]
Epoch 18 July 2014 (JD 2456856.5)
Uncertainty parameter 9
Observation arc40 days
Aphelion47.720 AU
Perihelion38.741 AU
43.231 AU
Eccentricity0.1038
284.25 yr (103,822 d)
275.33°
0° 0m 12.6s ± 0° 6m 46.152s / day
Inclination3.2251°
140.95°
235.94°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
20 km (est.)[6]
27–92 km[7]
0.09 (est.)[6]
0.04–0.15[4]
27.4[4]
11.7[5]

    Discovery and naming

    2014 MT69 was discovered by the New Horizons KBO Search with the help of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST)[8] because the object has a magnitude of 27.3, which is too faint to be observed by ground-based telescopes. Preliminary observations by the HST searching for KBO flyby targets for the New Horizons probe started in June 2014, and more intensive observations continued in July and August.[9][10] 2014 MT69 was first discovered in observations on June 24, 2014 during the preliminary observations, but it was designated 0720090F at the time,[2] nicknamed "7" for short.[3][4] Its existence as a potential target of the New Horizons probe was revealed by NASA in October 2014,[4] but the official name 2014 MT69 was not assigned by the Minor Planet Center (MPC) until March 2015 after better orbit information was available.[3] The parameters of the orbit have the extremely large uncertainty of 9 because follow-up observations after discovery eliminated 2014 MT69 as a potential target of the New Horizons probe, and no further follow-up observations were made.[4]

    Potential targets of the New Horizons mission

    After having completed its flyby of Pluto, the New Horizons space probe was maneuvered for a flyby of at least one Kuiper belt object (KBO). Several targets were considered for the first such flyby. Potential target 2014 MT69 has a diameter between 20–92 km (12–57 mi),[6][4] which is smaller than the other potential targets of the New Horizons probe. A potential encounter initially looked more feasible for 2014 MT69 than for 486958 Arrokoth, but follow-up observations eventually ruled out 2014 MT69 as a potential target.[3][4] The potential targets for the New Horizons probe were PT1 and PT3, the KBOs Arrokoth and 2014 PN70, and the probe had sufficient fuel to maneuver to either PT1 or PT3. Potential target PT2, the KBO 2014 OS393, was eliminated for consideration as a potential target.[11]

    On 28 August 2015, the New Horizons team announced the selection of Arrokoth as the next flyby target.[12]

    See also

    References
    1. "2014 MT69". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
    2. "Hubble Survey Finds Two Kuiper Belt Objects to Support New Horizons Mission". HubbleSite news release. Space Telescope Science Institute. 1 July 2014.
    3. Zangari, Amanda (28 March 2015). "Postcards from Pluto". Tumblr.
    4. Buie, Marc (15 October 2014). "New Horizons HST KBO Search Results: Status Report" (PDF). Space Telescope Science Institute. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2015.
    5. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2014 MT69)" (2014-08-03 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
    6. Johnston, Wm. Robert (13 July 2019). "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
    7. "ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDE (H)". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011.
    8. J. R. Spencer; M. W. Buie; et al. (2015). "The Successful Search for a Post-Pluto KBO Flyby Target for New Horizons Using the Hubble Space Telescope" (PDF). European Planetary Science Congress (EPSC) Abstract. Copernicus Office: EPSC2015-417. Bibcode:2015EPSC...10..417S.
    9. "Hubble to Proceed with Full Search for New Horizons Targets". HubbleSite news release. Space Telescope Science Institute. 1 July 2014.
    10. Schmidt, Klaus (2 July 2014). "Hubble to Proceed with Full Search for New Horizons Targets". International Space Fellowship.
    11. Powell, Corey S. (29 March 2015). "Alan Stern on Pluto's Wonders, New Horizons' Lost Twin, and That Whole "Dwarf Planet" Thing". Discover.
    12. Cofield, Calla (28 August 2015). "Beyond Pluto: 2nd Target Chosen for New Horizons Probe". Space.com.
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