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Trans-Neptunian object

Ixion

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(28978) Ixion

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Where is it now

Distance from Sun
37.383 AU
True anomaly
267.67°
Distance from Earth
37.657 AU
As of
16 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 — 0.997 AU from the Sun Earth Ixion — 37.383 AU from the Sun Ixion
Seen from above the ecliptic, north up, to scale. Grid: Earth's orbit in blue. Ixion is 37.657 AU from Earth today (5.2 light-hours).

In the sky

Right ascension
18h 30m 21s
Declination
-32° 22′ 34″
Constellation
Sagittarius
Distance from Earth
37.67 AU
Elongation from the Sun
72.8° — well clear of the Sun

Favours the southern hemisphere; low or below the horizon from far north.

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
39.346 AU
Eccentricity
0.2436
Inclination
19.66°
Orbital period
246.8 years
Perihelion
29.763 AU
Aphelion
48.93 AU
Longitude of ascending node
71.08°
Argument of periapsis
300.62°
Epoch · J2000
2461200.5
Orbit class · TNO
Trans-Neptunian object
Earth MOID · 11,210.9 LD
28.807 AU
Tisserand (Jupiter)
5.155

Orbit quality

Orbit very well determined (uncertainty code 0).

Observations used
587
Data arc
39.88 years
First observed
17 July 1982
Last observed
2 June 2022
Residual RMS
0.44 ″
Solution · Otto Matic
5 June 2026

Visual & observation

Absolute magnitude (H)
3.47

Discovery & classification

Discovered by
Deep Ecliptic Survey
Discovery date
22 May 2001
Discovery site
Cerro Tololo

Ixion tried to win the love of Hera, but Zeus thwarted this by creating the cloud Nephele, which resembled Hera and by whom Ixion fathered the Centaurs. For his crimes Ixion was bound to a wheel that turns forever in the underworld. The name was suggested by E. K. Elliot.

Also known as 28978 · 2001 KX76 · 28978 Ixion (2001 KX76)

Named TNO

Sources