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Trans-Neptunian object

2017 BK233

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(2017 BK233)

2017 BK233 is a trans-Neptunian object in the Trans-Neptunian object orbit class. Its orbit takes it from 42.05 AU to 53.07 AU from the Sun; one orbit takes 328 years. Orbit from the JPL solution of 23 May 2024.

Where is it now

Distance from Sun
48.436 AU
True anomaly
254.32°
Distance from Earth
49.393 AU
As of
25 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 2017 BK233 — 48.436 AU from the Sun 2017 BK233
Seen from above the ecliptic, north up, to scale. Grid: Earth's orbit in blue. 2017 BK233 is 49.393 AU from Earth today (6.8 light-hours).

In the sky

Right ascension
13h 09m 39s
Declination
-03° 15′ 30″
Constellation
Virgo
Distance from Earth
49.39 AU
Elongation from the Sun
15.74° — too close to the Sun to observe

Visible from both hemispheres.

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
47.558 AU
Eccentricity
0.1158
Inclination
6.47°
Orbital period
328 years
Perihelion
42.05 AU
Aphelion
53.066 AU
Longitude of ascending node
160.07°
Argument of periapsis
142.78°
Epoch · J2000
2457714.5
Orbit class · TNO
Trans-Neptunian object
Earth MOID · 15,970.6 LD
41.0373 AU
Tisserand (Jupiter)
6.077

Orbit quality

Orbit very uncertain — the object may be effectively lost (uncertainty code 8).

Observations used
15
Data arc
327 days
First observed
2 April 2016
Last observed
23 February 2017
Residual RMS
0.09 ″
Solution · Otto Matic
23 May 2024

Visual & observation

Absolute magnitude (H)
7.72

Discovery & classification

TNO

Sources