2020_MK53
2020 MK53
Trans-Neptunian object discovered in 2020
2020 MK53 is a trans-Neptunian object in the scattered disc, around 550 kilometres (340 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 22 June 2020 by the New Horizons KBO Search-Subaru survey[5][6] using the 8.2-meter Subaru Telescope of the Mauna Kea Observatories in Hawaii, and announced on 7 April 2023 (MPS 1836391, MPO 735634). It was 160 astronomical units from the Sun when it was discovered, making it the farthest known Solar System object from the Sun as of September 2023[update], well ahead of 2018 VG18 (124 AU) and 2018 AG37 (~132 AU).[2][7] Given its very short data-arc the only reliable information is in its range (156±4 AU) and range-rate (−0.04 km/s), which suggests that it is close to its aphelion.[8]