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Discovery and dynamics of a Sedna-like object with a perihelion of 66 au

From National Research Council Canada

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DOIResolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-025-02595-7
AuthorSearch for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7244-6069; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0926-2448; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1215-4130; Search for: 1ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7032-5255; Search for: 1ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6680-6558; Search for: ; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6491-1901; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1656-4540; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4077-0985; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3286-911X; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0283-2260; Search for: ; Search for: ; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6060-5851; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8214-5147; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0549-9002; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3435-7596; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9260-1537; Search for: ; Search for: ; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6832-4771; Search for: ; Search for: ; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2986-2371; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0792-4332; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4383-8247; Search for: ; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4797-5262; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4143-4246; Search for: ; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3491-6394; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9059-5623; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1680-2940
Affiliation
  1. National Research Council Canada. Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics
FunderSearch for: Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan; Search for: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science; Search for: National Natural Science Foundation of China
FormatText, Article
Abstract
Trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) with large perihelion distances (q > 60 au) and semi-major axes (a > 200 au) provide insights into the early evolution of the Solar System and the existence of a hypothetical distant planet. These objects are challenging to observe, and thus their detections are still rare, yet they play a crucial role in constraining models of Solar System formation. Here we report the discovery of a Sedna-like TNO, 2023 KQ14, nicknamed ‘Ammonite’, with q = 66 au, a = 252 au and inclination i = 11°. The orbit of Ammonite does not align with those of the other Sedna-like objects and fills the previously unexplained ‘q-gap’ in the observed distribution of distant Solar System objects. Simulations demonstrate that Ammonite is dynamically stable over 4.5 Gyr. Our analysis suggests that Ammonite and the other Sedna-like objects may have shared a primordial orbital clustering around 4.2 Ga. Furthermore, the stable orbit of Ammonite favours larger orbits (~500 au) rather than closer ones for a large hypothetical planet in present-day trans-Neptunian space.
Publication date
PublisherSpringer Nature
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  • Nature Astronomy (14 July 2025).
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LanguageEnglish
Peer reviewedYes
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Record identifier90b46f80-f888-461c-9d8c-cd16ead6f613
Record created2025-07-28
Record modified2025-07-29
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