  We present the first photometric observations of trans-Neptunian objects
(TNOs) taken with the Kepler space telescope, obtained in the course of the K2
ecliptic survey. Two faint objects have been monitored in specifically designed
pixel masks that were centered on the stationary points of the objects, when
their daily motion was the slowest. In the design of the experiment, only the
apparent path of these objects were retrieved from the detectors, i.e. the
costs in terms of Kepler pixels were minimized. Because of the faintness of the
targets we employ specific reduction techniques and co-added images. We measure
rotational periods and amplitudes in the unfiltered Kepler band as follows: for
(278361) 2007 JJ43 and 2002 GV31 we get P_rot=12.097 h and P_rot=29.2 h while
0.10 and 0.35 mag for the total amplitudes, respectively. Future space
missions, like TESS and PLATO are not well suited to this kind of observations.
Therefore, we encourage to include the brightest TNOs around their stationary
points in each observing campaign to exploit this unique capability of the K2
Mission -- and therefore to provide unbiased rotational, shape and albedo
characteristics of many objects.
