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Trans-Neptunian object

612239

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612239 (2001 QC298)

Where is it now

Distance from Sun
41.428 AU
True anomaly
34.59°
Distance from Earth
40.554 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.

Sun Earth — 0.994 AU from the Sun Earth 612239 — 41.428 AU from the Sun 612239
Seen from above the ecliptic, north up, to scale. Grid: Earth's orbit in blue. 612239 is 40.554 AU from Earth today (5.6 light-hours).

In the sky

Right ascension
00h 02m 53s
Declination
+21° 23′ 03″
Constellation
Pegasus
Distance from Earth
40.55 AU
Elongation from the Sun
151.11° — 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
46.352 AU
Eccentricity
0.1236
Inclination
30.6°
Orbital period
315.6 years
Perihelion
40.623 AU
Aphelion
52.081 AU
Longitude of ascending node
334.81°
Argument of periapsis
4.78°
Epoch · J2000
2461200.5
Orbit class · TNO
Trans-Neptunian object
Earth MOID · 15,416.7 LD
39.614 AU
Tisserand (Jupiter)
5.211

Orbit quality

Orbit very well determined (uncertainty code 2).

Observations used
87
Data arc
24.1 years
First observed
29 July 2000
Last observed
5 September 2024
Residual RMS
0.55 ″
Solution · Otto Matic
11 October 2024

Physical properties

Rotation period
12 hours

Visual & observation

Absolute magnitude (H)
6.67

Discovery & classification

Discovered by
Buie, M. W.
Discovery date
21 August 2001
Discovery site
Cerro Tololo

Also known as 2001 QC298

TNO

Sources