The Trans Neptunian Objects that have been discovered sofar - they take quite a long time to evolve around the sun, right? So, they all must be located not too far from where they were when discovered, and not go far in the next few years...

If that's correct, It would be kinda nice to have their location (in addition to their orbit) on a 2D map of the solar system... (this in contrast to the inner planets, which would make less sense to put on a map as they orbit much faster).

Is there such a map to be admired somewhere on the internet to be admired? I'd really like to know where Sedna, Orcus, Quaoar a.o.approximately are these days.

Thanks!

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Neptune, Titan, Stars can Frighten...

Ha! The linked animation (from Stupe's link) is downright terrifying. The selection bias makes it Look like we are under attack by a swarm of comets.

Moonhead,

Have you downloaded planetarium software like Celestia? The TNO's you mentioned, as well as a few other well known ones have their orbits plotted. You can get a very good idea about their current locations and track their progress over a couple millenia.

Good old Celestia! I had forgotten about this prog, shame on me. Your post prompted me to upgrade. Seems there are more options than when I last used it.

Is there a way (an easy way that is, like two or three mouse clicks) to get a 'view from above' with the orbits and locations?

Btw I didn't see an animation on the linked site, just a still... Maybe my browser is messing it up...

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Neptune, Titan, Stars can Frighten...

Here's a link to the animation: http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Animations/Outer.gif

In Celestia, you just need to unzoom and rotate your view until you are looking down/up at the Solar system. To see the TNO's you need to have the Asteroids label checked in View Options. I don't have the program on this comp, so don't know the keyboard shortcuts off hand.

The Wiki has a picture showing the the Kuiper belt objects and the Centaurs - not exactly what you are looking for, but interesting.

The article on Trans-Neptunian objects has a chart showing distribution (distance, inclination and diameter) but it gives no idea of the direction of the objects.

But there is lots of other nice stuff and links, too!

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I came for the astronomy but I do love the physics!

It's only now that I have the time to look at it.

This is incredibly cool, thanks!! Too bad Kepler didn't live long enough to see this.

Btw it seems like this is the century to send some probes to Sedna.

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Neptune, Titan, Stars can Frighten...