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Trans-Neptunian object

Altjira

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148780 Altjira (2001 UQ18)

Where is it now

Distance from Sun
46.285 AU
True anomaly
136.92°
Distance from Earth
45.698 AU
As of
21 October 2026

Two-body Kepler propagation — accurate to ~0.1% for major planets over decades, less so for highly-perturbed bodies. Use JPL Horizons for high precision.

Sun Earth — 0.995 AU from the Sun Earth Altjira — 46.285 AU from the Sun Altjira
Seen from above the ecliptic, north up, to scale. Grid: Earth's orbit in blue. Altjira is 45.698 AU from Earth today (6.3 light-hours).

In the sky

Right ascension
05h 26m 12s
Declination
+28° 24′ 10″
Constellation
Taurus
Distance from Earth
45.69 AU
Elongation from the Sun
126.29° — well clear of the Sun

Favours the northern hemisphere; low or below the horizon from far south.

From your location

See how high it is right now, whether it is up after civil twilight, and when it rises and sets where you are.

How do I find my coordinates?

Google Maps on a computer

  1. Right-click the spot where you'll be observing.
  2. The first line of the menu is the coordinates, e.g. 51.50722, -0.12758 — click it and they're copied.
  3. Paste them above.

Google Maps on a phone

  1. Press and hold the spot to drop a pin.
  2. The coordinates appear in the search bar (or on the pin's card) — tap to copy, then paste above.

A full Google Maps link works too, but the short maps.app.goo.gl share links don't carry coordinates — copy the numbers instead. We round to about a kilometre; that's all the sky calculation needs.

Know your what3words address? Paste it, e.g. ///filled.count.soap. This is optional — the three words are sent to what3words to convert them, and we don't store the address or the result.

Your location stays in your browser and is sent only for this calculation. Using a what3words address is optional; if you do, the three words go to what3words to be converted and we don't record them. Set a location first, then you can save an email alert for this object. See our privacy policy.

Two-body approximation, good to about a degree for the planets — enough to find the constellation and know whether it is up.

Orbital elements

Semi-major axis
44.506 AU
Eccentricity
0.0569
Inclination
5.2°
Orbital period
296.9 years
Perihelion
41.974 AU
Aphelion
47.037 AU
Longitude of ascending node
1.93°
Argument of periapsis
302.74°
Epoch · J2000
2461200.5
Orbit class · TNO
Trans-Neptunian object
Earth MOID · 15,940.9 LD
40.9609 AU
Tisserand (Jupiter)
5.933

Orbit quality

Orbit reasonably well determined (uncertainty code 4).

Observations used
83
Data arc
21.11 years
First observed
20 October 2001
Last observed
28 November 2022
Residual RMS
0.37 ″
Solution · Otto Matic
9 February 2023

Visual & observation

Absolute magnitude (H)
5.77

Discovery & classification

Discovered by
Deep Ecliptic Survey
Discovery date
20 October 2001
Discovery site
Kitt Peak

According to the mythology of the Arrernte in central Australia, Altjira was the central god of the Dreamtime who created the earth and then retired to the sky.

Also known as 148780 · 2001 UQ18

Named TNO

Sources