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List of Solar System objects most distant from the Sun

(Redirected from List of most distant trans-Neptunian objects)

These Solar System minor planets are the furthest from the Sun as of December 2021. The objects have been categorized by their approximate current distance from the Sun, and not by the calculated aphelion of their orbit. The list changes over time because the objects are moving in their orbits. Some objects are inbound and some are outbound. It would be difficult to detect long-distance comets if it were not for their comas, which become visible when heated by the Sun. Distances are measured in astronomical units (AU, Sun–Earth distances). The distances are not the minimum (perihelion) or the maximum (aphelion) that may be achieved by these objects in the future.

Positions of known outer Solar System objects
  Sun
  Jupiter trojans (6,178)
  Scattered disc (>300)   Giant planets: J · S · U · N
  Centaurs (44,000)
  Kuiper belt (>1,000)
(scale in AU; epoch as of January 2015; # of objects in parentheses)

This list does not include near-parabolic comets of which many are known to be currently more than 100 AU (15 billion km) from the Sun, but are currently too far away to be observed by telescope. Trans-Neptunian objects are typically announced publicly months or years after their discovery, so as to make sure the orbit is correct before announcing it. Due to their greater distance from the Sun and slow movement across the sky, trans-Neptunian objects with observation arcs less than several years often have poorly constrained orbits. Particularly distant objects take several years of observations to establish a crude orbit solution before being announced. For instance, the most distant known trans-Neptunian object 2018 AG37 was discovered by Scott Sheppard in January 2018 but was announced three years later in February 2021.[1]

Noted objects

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One particularly distant body is 90377 Sedna, which was discovered in November 2003. It has an extremely eccentric orbit that takes it to an aphelion of 937 AU.[2] It takes over 10,000 years to orbit, and during the next 50 years it will slowly move closer to the Sun as it comes to perihelion at a distance of 76 AU from the Sun.[3] Sedna is the largest known sednoid, a class of objects that play an important role in the Planet Nine hypothesis.

Pluto (30–49 AU, about 34 AU in 2015) was the first Kuiper belt object to be discovered (1930) and is the largest known dwarf planet.

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Known distant objects

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This is a list of known objects at heliocentric distances of more than 65 AU. In theory, the Oort cloud could extend over 120,000 AU (2 ly) from the Sun.

Most distant observable objects in the Solar System as of December 2021[4]
Object name Distance from the Sun (AU) Radial velocity
(AU/yr)[a] 		Perihelion Aphelion Semimajor
axis 		Apparent
magnitude 		Absolute
magnitude (H) 		Important dates
December 2021 December 2015 Discovered Announced
Great Comet of 1680
(for comparison) 		258.0[5] 255.4[5] +0.47[5] 0.006 889 444 Unknown Unknown 1680-11-14 —
Voyager 1
(for comparison) 		152.9[5] 133.3[5] +3.57[5] 8.90 ∞
Hyperbolic		 −3.2[6] ~50 ~28 — —
2018 AG37 132.9±1.8 131.9±10.7 ±0.2(?) 27.1 145.0 86.0 25.4 4.2 2018-01-15 2021-02-10
Voyager 2
(for comparison) 		129.4[5] 109.7[5] +3.17[5] 21.2 ∞
Hyperbolic		 −4.0[6] ~48 ~28 — —
Pioneer 10
(for comparison) 		128.9[5] 114.8[5] +2.51[5] 4.94 ∞
Hyperbolic		 ~49 ~29 — —
2018 VG18 123.6 123.2 +0.06 37.8 123.9 81.3 24.6 3.7 2018-11-10 2018-12-17
2020 BE102 110.9 111.7 32.9 116.9 74.9 25.6 5.1 2020-01-24 2022-05-31
Pioneer 11
(for comparison) 		107.7[5] 92.5[5] +2.35[5] 9.45 ∞
Hyperbolic		 ~48 ~29 — —
2020 FY30 98.9 99.9 –0.17 35.6 107.7 71.6 24.8 4.7 2020-03-24 2021-02-14
2020 FA31 97.3 96.5 +0.14 39.5 102.4 71.0 25.4 5.4 2020-03-24 2021-02-14
Eris
136199 		95.9 96.3 −0.07 38.3 97.5 67.9 18.8 −1.21 2003-10-21 2005-07-29
2020 FQ40 92.4 92.7 –0.05 38.2 93.1 65.6 25.7 6.1 2020-03-24 2022-05-31
2015 TH367[b] 90.3 88.2 +0.42 28.9 136.4 82.6 26.3 6.6 2015-10-13 2018-03-13
2021 DR15 89.6 88.6 +0.17(?) 37.8 96.5 67.2 23.1 3.6 2021-02-17 2021-12-17
2014 UZ224 89.5 92.0 −0.45 38.3 177.0 107.6 23.2 3.4 2014-10-21 2016-08-28
Gonggong
225088 		88.7 87.4 +0.23 33.7 101.2 67.5 21.5 1.6 2007-07-17 2009-01-07
2015 FG415 87.2 87.9 −0.14 36.2 92.1 64.1 25.5 6.0 2015-03-17 2019-03-27
2014 FC69 85.5 84.1 +0.26 40.4 104.4 72.4 24.2 4.6 2014-03-25 2015-02-11
2006 QH181 84.6 83.3 +0.22 37.5 96.7 67.1 23.7 4.3 2006-08-21 2006-11-05
Sedna
90377 		84.2 85.8 −0.29 76.3 892.6 484.4 21.0 1.3 2003-11-14 2004-03-15
2015 VO166 84.3 82.5 +0.32 38.3 113.2 75.8 25.5 5.9 2015-11-06 2018-10-02
2012 VP113 84.2 83.3 +0.16 80.4 442.6 261.5 23.5 4.0 2012-11-05 2014-03-26
2013 FS28 83.5 85.9 −0.62 34.2 358.2 196.2 24.3 4.9 2013-03-16 2016-08-29
2017 SN132 82.8 80.4 +0.44 42.0 110.0 76.0 25.2 5.8 2017-09-16 2019-02-10
2019 EU5 81.7 85.5 46.5 2310 1178 25.6 6.4 2019-03-05 2021-12-17
2015 UH87[b] 81.3 82.3 −0.19 34.3 90.0 62.2 25.2 6.0 2015-10-16 2018-03-12
2013 FY27
532037 		79.7 80.3 −0.10 35.2 82.1 58.7 22.2 3.2 2013-03-17 2014-03-31
2021 DP15 79.7 76.2 29.1 204.1 116.6 25.4 6.2 2021-02-16 2021-12-17
2015 TJ367[b] 79.4 77.1 +0.42 33.6 128.1 80.9 25.8 6.7 2015-10-13 2018-03-13
2017 FO161 78.1 79.1 −0.18 34.1 85.5 59.8 23.3 4.3 2017-03-23 2018-04-02
Leleākūhonua
541132 		77.6 79.8 −0.40 65.2 2,106 1,085 24.6 5.5 2015-10-13 2018-10-01
2018 AD39 77.2 74.1 –0.58 38.4 287.9 163.2 25.0 6.2 2018-01-15 2021-02-13
2020 FB31 75.8 76.8 –0.19 34.4 83.3 59.1 24.5 5.6 2020-03-24 2021-02-14
2018 AK39 75.3 75.4 –0.01 27.3 75.4 51.4 25.3 6.5 2018-01-18 2021-02-18
2021 LL37 73.9 74.2 –0.05 36.1 74.6 55.4 22.7 4.0 2021-06-02 2022-05-31
2010 GB174 73.6 70.7 +0.54 48.7 630.7 339.7 25.3 6.5 2010-04-12 2013-04-30
2015 VJ168 73.4 72.4 +0.19 37.6 81.5 59.5 24.8 5.8 2015-11-06 2018-10-03
2015 DU249 73.1 72.7 +0.06 34.7 73.7 54.2 23.9 5.2 2015-02-17 2018-07-23
2014 FJ72 72.6 70.1 +0.46 38.4 148.2 93.3 24.4 5.6 2014-03-24 2016-08-31
2016 TS97[b] 71.2 71.5 −0.04 36.2 71.7 54.0 24.9 6.1 2016-10-06 2018-04-02
2015 GN55 71.0 72.1 −0.19 32.5 78.4 55.5 24.6 5.8 2015-04-13 2018-09-02
2015 VL168 69.7 72.1 –0.44 37.7 136.0 86.8 24.7 6.1 2015-11-07 2018-10-03
2020 BA95 69.6 68.4 +0.20 35.9 76.5 56.2 24.3 5.8 2020-01-25 2021-12-17
2015 RZ277 69.3 67.5 +0.32 34.7 90.5 62.6 25.6 6.8 2015-09-08 2018-10-01
2021 DJ17 69.0 69.2 40.4 69.4 54.9 23.2 6.7 2021-02-17 2022-05-31
2012 FH84 68.8 68.4 +0.07 41.9 70.1 56.0 25.8 7.2 2012-03-25 2016-06-07
2019 AC77 68.7 69.9 –0.21 35.0 79.0 57.0 25.0 6.6 2019-01-11 2021-02-14
2015 GR50 68.6 68.2 +0.07 38.2 69.7 54.0 25.2 6.6 2015-04-13 2016-08-31
2013 FQ28 68.4 67.3 +0.19 45.6 80.0 62.7 24.5 6.0 2013-03-17 2016-06-07
2011 GM89 68.3 68.5 –0.24 36.5 68.8 52.7 25.7 7.1 2011-04-04 2016-08-31
2021 DQ15 68.3 71.4 27.8 130.9 79.3 24.7 6.3 2021-02-16 2021-12-17
2021 DG17 67.6 66.7 +0.15 47.5 75.8 61.7 23.2 5.0 2021-02-17 2022-05-31
2015 GP50 67.5 68.1 –0.10 40.4 70.0 55.2 25.0 6.5 2015-04-14 2016-06-07
2016 CD289 67.2 66.2 +0.18 37.5 74.0 55.8 25.7 7.3 2016-02-05 2018-03-13
2018 VJ137 67.2 69.7 –0.42 37.8 139.3 88.5 25.2 6.9 2018-01-15 2021-02-13
2020 KV11 67.1 64.1 +0.50 35.0 155.0 95.6 25.6 7.3 2020-05-29 2022-11-02
2014 UD228 66.7 65.7 +0.18 36.7 73.3 55.0 24.5 6.1 2014-10-22 2017-12-07
2016 GB277 66.2 68.3 –0.39 40.0 119.4 79.7 25.6 7.3 2016-04-10 2020-06-04
2016 GZ276 66.1 69.2 –0.56 38.6 253.6 146.1 25.3 7.0 2016-04-10 2020-06-03
2014 FL72 66.1 63.3 +0.47 38.0 167.1 102.5 25.1 6.8 2014-03-26 2016-08-31
2016 TQ120[b] 65.8 63.7 +0.37 42.3 114.3 78.3 25.0 6.7 2016-10-06 2020-06-04
2015 RQ281 65.7 62.7 +0.56 36.9 210.6 123.8 25.1 6.8 2015-09-05 2019-03-27
2020 BS60[b] 65.7 68.0 –0.42 31.0 104.1 67.6 24.6 6.5 2020-01-26 2021-02-23
2013 UJ15 65.4 64.8 +0.11 37.2 67.4 52.3 25.4 7.0 2013-10-28 2016-08-31
2019 EV5 65.3 63.5 +0.30 32.0 79.8 55.9 25.8 7.6 2020-03-05 2021-12-17
2014 FD70 65.2 63.8 +0.26 35.9 78.6 57.3 25.1 6.9 2014-03-25 2018-04-02
2018 AZ18 65.1 65.9 –0.15 39.1 70.5 54.8 26.0 7.7 2018-01-15 2019-03-27
2015 KV167 65.0 65.2 –0.03 38.0 65.3 51.6 25.6 7.2 2015-05-18 2018-03-13
2018 VO35 65.0 67.8 –0.51 35.2 152.2 93.7 24.9 6.8 2018-11-10 2019-02-10
2020 KX11[b] 65.0 65.0 –0.01 64.6 67.1 65.9 26.4 8.2 2020-05-29 2020-09-25
This table includes all observable objects currently located at least 65 AU from the Sun.[4]


  1. ^ AU/yr indicates whether the object is moving inwards or outwards in its orbit, and the rate at which it does so.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Distance and orbital elements are crudely estimated based on a short observation arc.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "MPEC 2021-C187 : 2018 AG37". Minor Planet Electronic Circular. Minor Planet Center. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  2. ^ Horizons output. "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for 90377 Sedna (2003 VB12)". Retrieved 18 September 2021. (Solution using the Solar System barycenter. Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0) (Saved Horizons output file 2011-Feb-04 "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for 90377 Sedna". Archived from the original on 19 November 2012.) In the second pane "PR=" can be found, which gives the orbital period in days (4.160E+06, which is 11,390 Julian years).
  3. ^ Most Distant Object In Solar System Discovered; NASA.gov; (2004)
  4. ^ a b "AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site". Retrieved 17 December 2021. Objects with distance from Sun over 65 AU
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o JPL Horizons On-Line Ephemeris System. "JPL Horizons On-Line Ephemeris". Retrieved 10 February 2021.
    Ephemeris Type: Vector; Observer Location: @sun; Time Span: Start=2015-12-01, Stop=2021-06-01, Intervals=1; Table Settings: quantities code=6
  6. ^ a b "Voyager - Hyperbolic Orbital Elements".
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