TNO Database

Description

The TNO Database that we produce here at APS is a complete listing of all Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) discovered to date (currently 4,208), of which can be calculated using the gold standard JPL Horizons API access. These include, of course, Pluto, the first such discovered on January 23, 1930, 5:27:29.952 UT, at Lowell Observatory by C. W. Tombaugh, as noted at the Minor Planet Center.

Of these 4,208 objects, 39 have been named, including recently 469705 Kagara. 913 are MPC-numbered, 3,295 are unnumbered. Only the numbered are available to track using Swiss Ephemeris (SE)-based astrological products, e.g., Solar Fire, Sirius, Astrolog, Planetdance, etc., although only a few it seems are actually researched these days by astrologers. There are about a dozen more listed here that SE-users may calculate, but we recommend not to use these for anything except ballpark calculations if inserted into a chart, since the folder is not maintained by the SE developers (last update 2+ years ago) – therefore, inaccurate calculations.

The orbital solutions for all these TNOs are updated frequently at JPL Horizons. When a customer orders this product, we calculate real time positions for any date requested (if available to retrieve at Horizons). Most are available for dates after 1600 CE.

We provide seven pages in this product with each listing all 4,208 TNOs, the first page sorted by Ecliptic Longitude (LON). We list the SPKID, MPC No., Name, Diameter (km), Inclination, Period (yrs.), Condition Code (CC), Retrieval Date/Time, RA, DEC, LAT, LON (with Rx status) – all coordinates accurate to 0.01 arcsecond. The second page is sorted by ID No., i.e., MPC No. (913 of them), the remainder by date discovered. The third page is sorted by Declination, the fourth by Latitude, the fifth by Inclination, the sixth by Period, and the seventh we do a Data Analysis showing diagrams of the total distribution by Zodiac Sign, Latitude, Declination, Inclination and the Average Period (yrs.) based upon three different criteria.

There are 69 of these TNOs with an inclination over 90º. What this means is that they have a retrograde (clockwise) orbit around our Sun, unlike the rest of the TNOs and the majority of objects within our Solar System. The consensus by astronomers is that if retrograde, they are not part of our original system but were captured from another system (perhaps our as-yet-undiscovered companion Sun? or the Oort Cloud). We have researched many of these and have found many to be highly significant, some rather strange, especially the long period 2012DR30 and 2013AZ60, and the several with an Inclination close to 90º, e.g., 2017UX51, 2005OE, 2017OX68, etc. To depict the strangeness, what TNO with a 166.23 yr. cycle returns to its natal position in just 40 years? How’s that possible, you might wonder. Ever heard of one with a sporadic daily motion of 22º for a 24-hour period, almost twice as fast as our Moon? These odd “traits” have astrological implications.

We are excited to make this product available first, the only such database for astrologers to research these objects. If you wish to have an ephemeris for any of these, visit our Custom Ephemeris product here.

The TNO Database product is an Excel password-protected file.