14627 Emilkowalski is a minor planet (asteroid) located in the inner region of the main asteroid belt. It is the lowest‑numbered member and namesake of the Emilkowalski asteroid family, a young collisional family identified through clustering of orbital elements.
Discovery and designation
The object was assigned the provisional designation 1998 [‑] upon its discovery in 1998; it subsequently received the permanent number 14627 and the name Emilkowalski. The discovery is recorded in the Minor Planet Center database, which lists the date of observation and the observing program responsible for the detection. (Exact discovery circumstances, including the specific observatory and discoverer, are documented in the MPC circulars.)
Orbital characteristics
- Semimajor axis: approximately 2.3 AU
- Eccentricity: about 0.10
- Inclination: roughly 5° to the ecliptic plane
These orbital elements place 14627 Emilkowalski within the inner main belt, typical of S‑type (stony) asteroids. Periodic updates to its orbit are maintained by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Small‑Body Database.
Physical properties
The asteroid’s absolute magnitude (H) is recorded as 15.5, implying an estimated diameter in the range of 2–4 km, depending on the assumed albedo. No dedicated spectroscopic observations have been published, so its precise composition remains unconfirmed; the size estimate follows standard assumptions for main‑belt asteroids of similar magnitude.
Emilkowalski asteroid family
The Emilkowalski family was identified in dynamical studies of the inner main belt, which revealed a cluster of objects sharing similar proper orbital elements. The family is considered relatively young, with age estimates on the order of a few hundred thousand to a few million years, based on the dispersion of member orbits and the lack of substantial space‑weathering effects. 14627 Emilkowalski, being the lowest‑numbered and largest known member, serves as the family’s namesake and possible parent body.
Naming citation
According to the citation published in the Minor Planet Circulars, the asteroid was named in honor of Emil Kowalski (dates of birth and death, profession, and contributions are briefly mentioned in the citation). The original reference provides only limited biographical detail; further information about Kowalski’s work is not widely documented in astronomical literature.
Observational history
Since its discovery, 14627 Emilkowalski has been regularly observed for astrometric purposes to refine its orbit. No spacecraft flyby or targeted mission has been planned, and it is not known to be a binary system.
Research significance
The young age of the Emilkowalski family makes its members valuable for studies of the collisional evolution of the asteroid belt, surface aging processes, and the dynamical dispersion of fragments after a breakup event.
All data presented are derived from publicly available astronomical databases such as the Minor Planet Center and JPL Small‑Body Database. Where specific numerical values are not listed in these sources, estimates are based on standard assumptions for main‑belt asteroids of comparable absolute magnitude.