2014 MU69

2014 MU₆₉ (initially called PT1 and 1110113Y by the New Horizons and Hubble teams, respectively) is a classical Kuiper belt object and the next target for the New Horizons probe, selected in August 2015 for a flyby on 1 January 2019. After carrying out four course changes on 22, 25, 28 October and 4 November, New Horizons is now heading on a journey toward 2014 MU₆₉.2014 MU₆₉ is estimated to be 45 kilometres (28 mi) in diameter.

The name 2014 MU₆₉ is a provisional designation and indicates that it was the 1745th object observed between 16 and 30 June 2014.

History

Discovery

2014 MU₆₉ was discovered on 26 June 2014 by the Hubble Space Telescope during a preliminary survey to find a suitable Kuiper belt object for the New Horizons probe to flyby. The discovery required use of the Hubble Space Telescope, because with an apparent magnitude of 26 it is too faint for all but the most powerful telescopes. Hubble is also capable of very precise astrometry and hence a reliable orbit determination.