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Trans-Neptunian object

307251

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307251 (2002 KW14)

307251 is a trans-Neptunian object in the Trans-Neptunian object orbit class. Its orbit takes it from 37.12 AU to 55.92 AU from the Sun; one orbit takes 317.3 years. Discovered 17 May 2002 by Trujillo, C. A., Brown, M. E.. Orbit from the JPL solution of 14 April 2021.

Where is it now

Distance from Sun
43.739 AU
True anomaly
84.28°
Distance from Earth
44.326 AU
As of
24 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 — 0.994 AU from the Sun Earth 307251 — 43.739 AU from the Sun 307251
Seen from above the ecliptic, north up, to scale. Grid: Earth's orbit in blue. 307251 is 44.326 AU from Earth today (6.1 light-hours).

In the sky

Right ascension
17h 35m 32s
Declination
-27° 32′ 34″
Constellation
Ophiuchus
Distance from Earth
44.34 AU
Elongation from the Sun
52.69° — near the Sun — look low at dusk or dawn

Favours the southern hemisphere; low or below the horizon from far north.

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
46.52 AU
Eccentricity
0.2021
Inclination
9.78°
Orbital period
317.3 years
Perihelion
37.118 AU
Aphelion
55.923 AU
Longitude of ascending node
59.88°
Argument of periapsis
121.77°
Epoch · J2000
2461200.5
Orbit class · TNO
Trans-Neptunian object
Earth MOID · 14,061.8 LD
36.1325 AU
Tisserand (Jupiter)
5.884

Orbit quality

Orbit reasonably well determined (uncertainty code 3).

Observations used
90
Data arc
12.99 years
First observed
17 May 2002
Last observed
15 May 2015
Residual RMS
0.51 ″
Solution · Otto Matic
14 April 2021

Physical properties

Rotation period
8.58 hours

Visual & observation

Absolute magnitude (H)
5.51

Discovery & classification

Discovered by
Trujillo, C. A., Brown, M. E.
Discovery date
17 May 2002
Discovery site
Palomar

Also known as 2002 KW14

TNO

Sources