49881

49881 is a minor planet located in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered on October 16, 1999, by astronomers at the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program, a collaborative project involving the United States Air Force, NASA, and MIT Lincoln Laboratory. The asteroid was officially named after its provisional designation, with no additional naming convention or mythological reference assigned.

49881 orbits the Sun at an average distance of approximately 2.6 astronomical units (AU), completing one full revolution in roughly 4 years and 1 month. Its orbit is relatively stable, with a low inclination of about 1.5 degrees relative to the ecliptic plane, meaning it does not deviate significantly from the path taken by Earth and other inner planets. The asteroid has an estimated diameter of around 3 kilometers, placing it among the smaller bodies in the main belt.

Due to its size and distance, 49881 is not classified as a near-Earth object (NEO) and poses no known threat of collision with Earth. It remains an unremarkable but cataloged member of the asteroid population, studied primarily for its orbital characteristics and composition. Observations suggest it may belong to the S-type (stony) class of asteroids, which are composed primarily of silicate materials.

While 49881 lacks notable scientific significance or distinctive features, it serves as one of many objects contributing to the understanding of the asteroid belt’s structure and dynamics. Its discovery was facilitated by automated survey programs designed to monitor space for potentially hazardous objects, though it has not been the subject of focused research beyond routine astronomical observations.