(28978) Ixion Trans-Neptunian Object
Discovered on 22 May 2001 by Deep Ecliptic Survey at 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.Naming citation (20020328/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Ixion is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Ixion is 37.4 au from the Sun and 37.6 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 28978 |
| Provisional designation | 2001 KX76 |
| Orbit class | Trans-Neptunian Object |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 3.47 |
| Orbital period | 247 years |
| Semi-major axis | 39.3 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 29.8 – 48.9 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.244 |
| Inclination | 19.7° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 28.8 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.