15642

15642 is a minor planet that resides in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered on 30 December 1995 by the Lincoln Near‑Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) survey facility at the White Sands Missile Range near Socorro, New Mexico. The asteroid was initially designated 1995 XY1 before receiving its permanent number.

The orbit of 15642 follows a nearly circular path with a semi‑major axis of approximately 2.78 AU, placing it in the outer region of the asteroid belt. Its orbital period is about 4.4 Earth years, and the object has an orbital inclination of roughly 14°. The eccentricity of its orbit is moderate, causing the asteroid to vary in distance from the Sun by about 0.3 AU over each cycle.

Spectral analysis suggests that 15642 is an S‑type asteroid, indicating a stony composition rich in silicate minerals. Photometric observations have yielded an estimated diameter of roughly 4.5 kilometres, although this value depends on assumed albedo. Light‑curve data indicate a rotation period near 7.2 hours, with a modest brightness variation that implies a fairly spheroidal shape.

The asteroid does not yet have an official name beyond its numbered designation, and its future observations will continue to refine details about its composition, rotation, and any potential satellites.