(50000) Quaoar Trans-Neptunian Object
Discovered on 4 June 2002 by Trujillo, C. A., Brown, M. E. at Palomar.
Quaoar is the great force of creation in the diverse myths of the Tongva, the indigenous people of the Los Angeles basin. Quaoar has no form or gender and dances and sings Weywot, Sky Father, into existence. Together, they create Chehooit, Earth Mother, and the trio bring Tamit, Grandfather Sun, to life.Naming citation (20021120/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Quaoar is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Quaoar is 42.6 au from the Sun and 42.8 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 50000 |
| Provisional designation | 2002 LM60 |
| Orbit class | Trans-Neptunian Object |
| Rotation period | 8.84 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 2.41 |
| Orbital period | 284 years |
| Semi-major axis | 43.2 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 41.6 – 44.7 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0352 |
| Inclination | 7.99° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 40.6 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.