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Trans-Neptunian object

2004 VK78

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(2004 VK78)

2004 VK78 is a trans-Neptunian object in the Trans-Neptunian object orbit class. Its orbit takes it from 32.11 AU to 64.15 AU from the Sun; one orbit takes 333.9 years. Orbit from the JPL solution of 21 December 2022.

Where is it now

Distance from Sun
37.281 AU
True anomaly
63.61°
Distance from Earth
36.664 AU
As of
26 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 2004 VK78 — 37.281 AU from the Sun 2004 VK78
Seen from above the ecliptic, north up, to scale. Grid: Earth's orbit in blue. 2004 VK78 is 36.664 AU from Earth today (5.1 light-hours).

In the sky

Right ascension
05h 40m 40s
Declination
+23° 47′ 51″
Constellation
Taurus
Distance from Earth
36.66 AU
Elongation from the Sun
127.79° — 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
48.129 AU
Eccentricity
0.3329
Inclination
1.47°
Orbital period
333.9 years
Perihelion
32.108 AU
Aphelion
64.151 AU
Longitude of ascending node
67.54°
Argument of periapsis
313.23°
Epoch · J2000
2461200.5
Orbit class · TNO
Trans-Neptunian object
Earth MOID · 12,107.0 LD
31.1096 AU
Tisserand (Jupiter)
5.842

Orbit quality

Orbit reasonably well determined (uncertainty code 3).

Observations used
29
Data arc
18.05 years
First observed
9 November 2004
Last observed
28 November 2022
Residual RMS
0.32 ″
Solution · Otto Matic
21 December 2022

Visual & observation

Absolute magnitude (H)
7.94

Discovery & classification

TNO

Sources