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Trans-Neptunian object

Achlys

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208996 Achlys (2003 AZ84)

Where is it now

Distance from Sun
43.519 AU
True anomaly
228.19°
Distance from Earth
43.848 AU
As of
17 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 — 0.996 AU from the Sun Earth Achlys — 43.519 AU from the Sun Achlys
Seen from above the ecliptic, north up, to scale. Grid: Earth's orbit in blue. Achlys is 43.848 AU from Earth today (6.1 light-hours).

In the sky

Right ascension
08h 55m 00s
Declination
+05° 01′ 48″
Constellation
Hydra
Distance from Earth
43.85 AU
Elongation from the Sun
70.12° — 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.

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
39.657 AU
Eccentricity
0.175
Inclination
13.55°
Orbital period
249.7 years
Perihelion
32.718 AU
Aphelion
46.595 AU
Longitude of ascending node
251.9°
Argument of periapsis
14.07°
Epoch · J2000
2461200.5
Orbit class · TNO
Trans-Neptunian object
Earth MOID · 12,338.3 LD
31.704 AU
Tisserand (Jupiter)
5.416

Orbit quality

Orbit very well determined (uncertainty code 1).

Observations used
1,108
Data arc
29.97 years
First observed
19 March 1996
Last observed
9 March 2026
Residual RMS
0.53 ″
Solution · Otto Matic
7 June 2026

Physical properties

Rotation period
13.42 hours

Visual & observation

Absolute magnitude (H)
3.71

Discovery & classification

Discovered by
Trujillo, C. A., Brown, M. E.
Discovery date
13 January 2003
Discovery site
Palomar

Achlys is a personification of sorrow and grief described in the Greek epic poem, the Shield of Heracles. It is also used by Homer in the Iliad to describe the mist that covers the eyes of the dying.

Also known as 208996 · 2003 AZ84

Named TNO

Sources