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Trans-Neptunian object

119979

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119979 (2002 WC19)

119979 is a trans-Neptunian object in the Trans-Neptunian object orbit class. Its orbit takes it from 35.4 AU to 61.16 AU from the Sun; one orbit takes 335.5 years. Discovered 16 November 2002 by Palomar. Orbit from the JPL solution of 14 December 2024.

Where is it now

Distance from Sun
38.671 AU
True anomaly
306.79°
Distance from Earth
38.289 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 119979 — 38.671 AU from the Sun 119979
Seen from above the ecliptic, north up, to scale. Grid: Earth's orbit in blue. 119979 is 38.289 AU from Earth today (5.3 light-hours).

In the sky

Right ascension
06h 49m 05s
Declination
+21° 23′ 00″
Constellation
Gemini
Distance from Earth
38.29 AU
Elongation from the Sun
111.98° — 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
48.282 AU
Eccentricity
0.2667
Inclination
9.16°
Orbital period
335.5 years
Perihelion
35.405 AU
Aphelion
61.159 AU
Longitude of ascending node
109.74°
Argument of periapsis
43.4°
Epoch · J2000
2461200.5
Orbit class · TNO
Trans-Neptunian object
Earth MOID · 13,396.1 LD
34.422 AU
Tisserand (Jupiter)
5.904

Orbit quality

Orbit very well determined (uncertainty code 2).

Observations used
207
Data arc
22.94 years
First observed
16 December 2001
Last observed
24 November 2024
Residual RMS
0.4 ″
Solution · Otto Matic
14 December 2024

Visual & observation

Absolute magnitude (H)
4.66

Discovery & classification

Discovered by
Palomar
Discovery date
16 November 2002
Discovery site
Palomar

Also known as 2002 WC19

TNO

Sources