(15760) 1992 QB1

mp|(15760) 1992 QB|1 (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".Fact|date=September 2008

mp|(15760) 1992 QB|1 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 [ [http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast13sep_1.htm What Lurks in the Outer Solar System?] (Science@NASA, 13 September 2001)] , 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 —mp|(5322) 1986 QB|1, mp|(7026) 1993 QB|1, mp|(31114) 1997 QB|1, mp|(36447) 2000 QB|1, and mp|(52468) 1995 QB|1— and a great number of unnumbered ones).

The next three official cubewanos are mpl|(15807) 1994 GV|9, mpl|(16684) 1994 JQ|1, and mpl|(19255) 1994 VK|8. cite web |title=MPEC 2008-O05 : Distant Minor Planets (2008 AUG. 2.0 TT)
date=2008-07-17
publisher=Minor Planet Center
url=http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/mpec/K08/K08O05.html
accessdate=2008-09-29]

References

External links

* [http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=15760;orb=1;view=Far Orbital simulation] from JPL (Java) / [http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi?find_body=1&body_group=sb&sstr=15760 Ephemeris]
* [http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/iauc/05600/05611.html The IAU circular announcing the discovery]