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Trans-Neptunian object

469438

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469438 (2002 GV31)

Where is it now

Distance from Sun
40.008 AU
True anomaly
2.17°
Distance from Earth
40.955 AU
As of
21 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 — 0.995 AU from the Sun Earth 469438 — 40.008 AU from the Sun 469438
Seen from above the ecliptic, north up, to scale. Grid: Earth's orbit in blue. 469438 is 40.955 AU from Earth today (5.7 light-hours).

In the sky

Right ascension
12h 42m 00s
Declination
-02° 46′ 24″
Constellation
Virgo
Distance from Earth
40.95 AU
Elongation from the Sun
17.8° — 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
44.097 AU
Eccentricity
0.0928
Inclination
2.18°
Orbital period
292.8 years
Perihelion
40.005 AU
Aphelion
48.189 AU
Longitude of ascending node
59.12°
Argument of periapsis
129°
Epoch · J2000
2461200.5
Orbit class · TNO
Trans-Neptunian object
Earth MOID · 15,180.6 LD
39.0074 AU
Tisserand (Jupiter)
5.911

Orbit quality

Orbit reasonably well determined (uncertainty code 3).

Observations used
93
Data arc
17.82 years
First observed
6 April 2002
Last observed
30 January 2020
Residual RMS
0.46 ″
Solution · Otto Matic
4 June 2024

Physical properties

Rotation period
29.2 hours

Visual & observation

Absolute magnitude (H)
6.49

Discovery & classification

Discovered by
Buie, M. W.
Discovery date
6 April 2002
Discovery site
Cerro Tololo

Also known as 2002 GV31

TNO

Sources