Trans-Neptunian object

Teharonhiawako

88611 Teharonhiawako (2001 QT297)

Where is it now

Distance from Sun: 45.22 AU
True anomaly: 175.84°
Distance from Earth: 44.397 AU
As of: 20 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. Teharonhiawako is 44.397 AU from Earth today (6.2 light-hours).

In the sky

Right ascension: 23h 30m 24s
Declination: -01° 02′ 41″
Constellation: Pisces
Distance from Earth: 44.41 AU
Elongation from the Sun: 144.48° — well clear of the Sun

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.

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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.

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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: 43.989 AU
Eccentricity: 0.0281
Inclination: 2.58°
Orbital period: 291.8 years
Perihelion: 42.754 AU
Aphelion: 45.223 AU
Longitude of ascending node: 304.88°
Argument of periapsis: 232.83°
Epoch · J2000: 2461200.5
Orbit class · TNO: Trans-Neptunian object
Earth MOID · 16,251.8 LD: 41.7598 AU
Tisserand (Jupiter): 5.925

Orbit quality

Orbit very well determined (uncertainty code 2).

Observations used: 197
Data arc: 24.97 years
First observed: 1 August 2000
Last observed: 20 July 2025
Residual RMS: 0.78 ″
Solution · Otto Matic: 7 October 2026

Visual & observation

Absolute magnitude (H): 5.96

Discovery & classification

Discovered by: Deep Ecliptic Survey
Discovery date: 20 August 2001
Discovery site: Cerro Tololo

In the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) creation myth Teharonhiawako was a son of the granddaughter of the Great Spirit creation god. He became a farmer and was loved by the people. The companion object (88611) Teharonhiawako I, discovered 2001 Oct. 11 by J. L. Elliot, S. D. Kern and D. J. Osip, is named for his twin brother Sawiskera. Sawiskera was a skilled hunter but was jealous, cruel and destructive, and he was eventually conquered by his brother. The names were suggested by R. J. Benecchi and S. D. Kern.

Also known as 88611 · 2001 QT297

Named TNO

Sources

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