Trans-Neptunian object

538690

538690 (2016 FP59)

538690 is a trans-Neptunian object in the Trans-Neptunian object orbit class. Its orbit takes it from 39.04 AU to 54.25 AU from the Sun; one orbit takes 318.6 years. Discovered 28 March 2016 by DECam. Orbit from the JPL solution of 4 June 2024.

Where is it now

Distance from Sun: 48.757 AU
True anomaly: 114.91°
Distance from Earth: 49.71 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. 538690 is 49.71 AU from Earth today (6.9 light-hours).

In the sky

Right ascension: 12h 50m 33s
Declination: -09° 44′ 34″
Constellation: Virgo
Distance from Earth: 49.71 AU
Elongation from the Sun: 17.04° — 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.

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: 46.649 AU
Eccentricity: 0.163
Inclination: 4.21°
Orbital period: 318.6 years
Perihelion: 39.044 AU
Aphelion: 54.253 AU
Longitude of ascending node: 269.74°
Argument of periapsis: 170.39°
Epoch · J2000: 2461200.5
Orbit class · TNO: Trans-Neptunian object
Earth MOID · 14,811.7 LD: 38.0596 AU
Tisserand (Jupiter): 6.004

Orbit quality

Orbit very well determined (uncertainty code 2).

Observations used: 168
Data arc: 23.95 years
First observed: 4 May 2000
Last observed: 14 April 2024
Residual RMS: 0.56 ″
Solution · Otto Matic: 4 June 2024

Visual & observation

Absolute magnitude (H): 5.84

Discovery & classification

Discovered by: DECam
Discovery date: 28 March 2016
Discovery site: Cerro Tololo

Also known as 2016 FP59

TNO

Sources

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