List of Solar System objects by greatest aphelion

The orbit of Sedna lies well beyond these objects, and extends many times their distances from the Sun
The orbit of Sedna (red) set against the orbits of outer Solar System objects (Pluto's orbit is purple).

This is a list of Solar System objects by greatest aphelion or the greatest distance from the Sun that the orbit takes it. For the purposes of this list it is implied that the object is orbiting the Sun in a two-body solution without influence of the planets or passing stars. The aphelion can change significantly due to the gravitational influence of planets and other stars. Most of these objects are comets on a calculated path and may not be directly observable.[1]

The maximum extent of the region in which the Sun's gravitational field is dominant, the Hill sphere), may extend to 230,000 astronomical units (3.6 light-years) as calculated in the 1960s.[2] But any comet currently more than about 150,000 AU (2 ly) from the Sun can be considered lost to the interstellar medium. The nearest known star is Proxima Centauri at 271,000 AU which is 4.22 light years,[3] followed by Alpha Centauri at about 4.35 light years away according to NASA.[3]

Comets are thought to orbit the Sun at great distances, but then be perturbed by passing stars and the galactic tides.[4] As they come into or leave the inner Solar System they may have their orbit changed by the planets, or alternatively be ejected from the Solar System.[4] It is also possible they may collide with the Sun or a planet.[4]

Comets with greatest aphelion (2 body heliocentric)

There can be considerable variation for highly eccentric orbits based on the epoch (date) and whether you calculate a heliocentric or barycentric solution. The aphelion point for heliocentric solutions can be highly inaccurate for objects with an orbital eccentricity approaching 1 especially when values are calculated while the object is near perihelion and has not left the planetary region of the Solar System.

C/1910 A1 during its 1910 close approach
Proxima Centauri is 271,000 AU or 4.25 light years away

Distant periodic comets with well-known aphelion

Further information: List of Halley-type comets
The orbital paths of Halley, outlined in blue, against the orbits of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, outlined in red.

These can also change significantly such as if perturbed by Jupiter

The orbital paths of three comets, outlined in turquoise, against the orbits of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, outlined in green
The orbits of three periodic comets, Halley, Borrelly and Ikeya–Zhang, set against the orbits of the outer planets. Ikeya–Zhang is to the right.

Distant comets with long observation arcs and/or barycentric

Comet West in 1976

Examples of comets with a more well determined orbit. Comets are extremely small relative to other bodies and hard to observe once they stop outgassing (see Coma (cometary)). Because they are typically discovered close to the Sun, it will take some time even thousands of years for them to actually travel out to great distances. The Whipple proposal might be able to detect Oort cloud objects at great distances, but probably not a particular object.

Minor planets

A large number of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) – minor planets orbiting beyond the orbit of Neptune – have been discovered in recent years. Many TNOs have orbits with an aphelion (farthest distance to the Sun) far beyond Neptune's orbit at 30.1 AU. Some of these TNOs with an extreme aphelion are detached objects such as 2010 GB174, which always reside in the outermost region of the Solar System, while for other TNOs, the extreme aphelion is due to an exceptionally high eccentricity such as for 2005 VX3, which orbits the Sun at a distance between 4.1 (closer than Jupiter) and 3080 AU (a hundred times farther from the Sun than Neptune). The following is a list of TNOs with the largest aphelion in descending order.[15][16]

Approximate number of bodies
Aphelion
in AU		 Number of bodies
200–300
12
300–400
7
400–500
5
500–600
4
600–700
4
700–800
1
800–900
0
900–1000
4
1000–1500
4
Beyond 1500
3

TNOs with an aphelion larger than 200 AU

The following group of bodies have orbits with an aphelion above 200 AU.[15]

TNOs with an aphelion between 100 and 200 AU

65489 Ceto (2003 FX128)
(225088) 2007 OR10

The following group of bodies have orbits with an aphelion between 100 and 200 AU.[22]

  • 1999 DP8 196.80
  • 2004 NN8 192.66
  • 65489 Ceto 187.35
  • (437360) 2013 TV158 186.02
  • (303775) 2005 QU182 184.31
  • (29981) 1999 TD10 180.96
  • (184212) 2004 PB112 177.65
  • 2000 KP65 174.90
  • (91554) 1999 RZ215 170.33
  • 2015 RK245166.18
  • 2010 ER65 159.36
  • (118702) 2000 OM67155.66
  • 2003 QM112155.11
  • 2013 LD16 154.88
  • 2008 ST291 154.54
  • 2011 HO60 152.60
  • (145474) 2005 SA278 151.92
  • 2014 XS3 151.15
  • (26181) 1996 GQ21 150.26
  • 2008 LP17 150.21
  • 2012 UK177 149.00
  • 1999 CY118 148.99
  • 2005 RP43 147.76
  • 2006 HQ122 146.42
  • (145451) 2005 RM43 146.34
  • 2010 JJ124 144.80
  • 2007 FN51 144.58
  • 2003 YQ179 143.11
  • (307982) 2004 PG115 142.29
  • 1999 CF119 142.00
  • 2013 GZ136 141.20
  • (82155) 2001 FZ173 140.65
  • 2007 LF38 137.23
  • 2005 EF304 136.55
  • 2008 JO41 134.86
  • 2010 JH124 134.61
  • 2003 QY91 133.01
  • 2010 PU75 132.36
  • (15874) 1996 TL66 132.31
  • 2000 CP105 131.89
  • 1999 RZ214 131.59
  • 1999 DG8 131.43
  • 2010 EQ65 128.88
  • 2006 HV122 125.29
  • 2001 FK194 124.69
  • 2013 BN27 124.00
  • 2005 OE 122.61
  • 2013 SE99 122.49
  • 2004 TF282 122.26
  • 2010 GW64 122.06
  • 2013 JR64 120.29
  • 2001 KZ76 119.78
  • 2012 HD2 119.71
  • 2000 SQ331 119.14
  • 2011 UW412 118.38
  • 2015 TN178 117.10
  • 2004 VM131 116.26
  • (451657) 2012 WD36 116.08
  • 2003 LA7 116.03
  • 2003 FH129 115.74
  • 2013 JV64 114.48
  • (127546) 2002 XU93 114.38
  • 2000 PF30 114.14
  • 2000 PH30 114.11
  • 2005 PT21 112.78
  • 2011 UP411112.60
  • (229762) 2007 UK126 110.12
  • 2012 UR177 110.01
  • 2007 TA418108.89
  • 2009 KN30 108.88
  • 2014 WT69 108.76
  • 2006 HO122
  • (65407) 2002 RP120 107.21
  • 2003 OS33 107.04
  • 2010 EK139 107.02
  • 2014 FC69 106.92
  • 2007 LJ38 106.85
  • (126619) 2002 CX154 106.47
  • (160148) 2001 KV76 105.22
  • 2007 RM314 104.28
  • (145480) 2005 TB190 104.21
  • 2011 FY9 104.07
  • 2006 HX122 103.78
  • 2000 AB229 103.10
  • 2010 RM45 102.63
  • 2013 JD64 102.57
  • 2001 OM109 101.79
  • 2001 OT108 101.44
  • (225088) 2007 OR10 100.75
  • 2007 TR436 100.50

TNOs with an aphelion between 90 and 100 AU

Orbit comparison of Eris (blue)
  • 2011 UQ412 99.74
  • 2001 FN194 98.95
  • 2000 YY1 98.49
  • 2005 LC54 98.43
  • 2004 VH131 97.64
  • 136199 Eris (2003 UB313) 97.63
  • 2000 SS331 96.89
  • 2000 QK226 96.75
  • 2006 QH181 96.73
  • 2004 VG131 96.63
  • 2014 GE45 96.36
  • 2003 QK91 96.05
  • 2009 DJ143 95.68
  • 2001 FJ194 95.05
  • 2010 RE64 94.99
  • 2006 QJ181 94.48
  • 2006 QG181 94.34
  • 2000 PS30 93.93
  • 2008 OG19 93.82
  • 2011 US411 93.53
  • 2014 QR441 92.37
  • 1998 XY95 92.36
  • (136120) 2003 LG7 92.34
  • 2004 HQ79 90.96
  • 2009 KX36 90.89

Comparison

Sedna compared to some other very distant orbiting bodies. Including 90377 Sedna, 2015 DB216 (orbit wrong), 2000 OO67, 2004 VN112, 2005 VX3, 2006 SQ372, 2007 TG422, 2007 DA61, 2009 MS9, 2010 GB174, 2010 NV1, 2010 BK118, 2012 DR30, 2012 VP113, 2013 BL76, 2013 AZ60, 2013 RF98, 2015 ER61

See also

About comets
Objects of interest
Others

References

  1. 1 2 3 JPL Small-Body Database Search Engine
  2. ↑ Chebotarev, G.A. (1964), "Gravitational Spheres of the Major Planets, Moon and Sun", Soviet Astronomy, 7 (5): 618–622, Bibcode:1964SvA.....7..618C, retrieved 2010-03-24
  3. 1 2 3 NASA – Imagine the Universe: The Nearest Star
  4. 1 2 3 Frequently Asked Questions About General Astronomy
  5. ↑ Comet C/2012 S4 (PANSTARRS) at the JPL Small Body Database
  6. ↑ Special Astronomy Units
  7. 1 2 3 Furthest SSB
  8. ↑ Horizons output. "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet C/1975 V1-A (West)". Retrieved 2011-02-01. (Solution using the Solar System Barycenter. Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
  9. ↑ Horizons output. "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet C/1999 F1 (Catalina)". Retrieved 2011-03-07. (Solution using the Solar System Barycenter and barycentric coordinates. Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
  10. ↑ Horizons output. "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet C/2012 S4 (PANSTARRS)". Retrieved 2015-09-26. (Solution using the Solar System Barycenter and barycentric coordinates. Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
  11. ↑ Horizons output (2011-01-30). "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet Hyakutake (C/1996 B2)". Retrieved 2011-01-30. (Horizons)
  12. ↑ Horizons output. "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet C/1910 A1 (Great January comet)". Retrieved 2011-02-07. (Solution using the Solar System Barycenter and barycentric coordinates. Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
  13. ↑ Horizons output. "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet C/1992 J1 (Spacewatch)". Retrieved 7 October 2012. (Solution using the Solar System Barycenter and barycentric coordinates. Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
  14. ↑ Horizons output. "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3)". Retrieved 2011-01-30. (Solution using the Solar System Barycenter. Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
  15. 1 2 3 JPL asteroids greater than 200 AU aphelion (Q)
  16. 1 2 3 JPL asteroids aphelion greater than 800 AU
  17. ↑ Marc W. Buie. "Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for 308933" (2010-09-17 using 64 of 65 observations over 5.01 years). SwRI (Space Science Department). Retrieved 2008-09-05.
  18. ↑ Marc W. Buie. "Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for 07TG422" (2009-09-28 using 32 of 32 observations). SwRI (Space Science Department). Retrieved 2011-01-30.
  19. ↑ Sedna @ Minor Planet Center
  20. ↑ Marc W. Buie (2007-11-08). "Orbit Fit and Astrometric record for 04VN112". SwRI (Space Science Department). Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  21. ↑ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2004 VN112)". Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  22. ↑ JPL database down to 100 AU aphelion minor planets

External links

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