Trans-Neptunian object

2017 BP237

(2017 BP237)

2017 BP237 is a trans-Neptunian object in the Trans-Neptunian object orbit class. Its orbit takes it from 37.95 AU to 55.45 AU from the Sun; one orbit takes 319.1 years. Orbit from the JPL solution of 23 May 2024.

Where is it now

Distance from Sun: 44.96 AU
True anomaly: 270.68°
Distance from Earth: 45.591 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.

Seen from above the ecliptic, north up, to scale. Grid: Earth's orbit in blue. 2017 BP237 is 45.591 AU from Earth today (6.3 light-hours).

In the sky

Right ascension: 10h 37m 52s
Declination: -02° 36′ 52″
Constellation: Sextans
Distance from Earth: 45.58 AU
Elongation from the Sun: 50.84° — near the Sun — look low at dusk or dawn

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.

Paste a location

How do I find my coordinates?

Google Maps on a computer

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

Google Maps on a phone

Press and hold the spot to drop a pin.
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: 46.699 AU
Eccentricity: 0.1874
Inclination: 10.85°
Orbital period: 319.1 years
Perihelion: 37.949 AU
Aphelion: 55.449 AU
Longitude of ascending node: 263.9°
Argument of periapsis: 346.69°
Epoch · J2000: 2461200.5
Orbit class · TNO: Trans-Neptunian object
Earth MOID · 14,374.4 LD: 36.9359 AU
Tisserand (Jupiter): 5.892

Orbit quality

Orbit poorly determined (uncertainty code 6).

Observations used: 22
Data arc: 895 days
First observed: 25 November 2016
Last observed: 9 May 2019
Residual RMS: 0.13 ″
Solution · Otto Matic: 23 May 2024

Visual & observation

Absolute magnitude (H): 8.99

Discovery & classification

TNO

Sources

visual properties: JPL SBDB (lookup)
orbital elements: JPL SBDB