Vesta the brightest asteroid or minor planet is now visible with binoculars and small telescopes and well placed for observation as it heads towards opposition on January 17th. Although it won't quite reach naked eye brightness this time, the asteroid remains at least as bright as seventh magnitude from now until the end of March. At peak, Vesta hits magnitude +6.2 in January and throughout the next few months will appear bright, easy to spot and follow with either a pair of quality binoculars or a small scope.
Discovery
Vesta was the fourth asteroid to be discovered on March 29, 1807 by German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers. With a diameter 530 kilometres (330 miles) it's the third largest body - after Ceres and Pallas - in the main asteroid belt. However, Vesta is the brightest asteroid and appears brighter than the above-mentioned pair because it approaches closer to Earth and has a higher albedo or reflective surface. At favourable oppositions Vesta peaks at mag. +5.1, putting it within naked eye visibility.
Location
The asteroid starts December moving retrograde in Cancer and remains there through opposition until it crosses into Gemini on January 19th. It's visible just after sunset in December and remains so for the rest of the night. In January, Vesta is effectively visible all night long, rising in the east at sunset and setting in the west as the Sun reappears on the opposite side of the sky. However, from about January 11th to 15th the bright Moon nearby will somewhat interfere with observations.
At opposition, Vesta will be 1.523 AU (approx. 227.8 million kilometres or 141.6 million miles) from Earth. The next few months offer a superb opportunity to view this asteroid belt object. Don't miss it!
Vesta position in the sky from November 2016 to March 2017 - pdf format (credit:- freestarcharts)
Vesta Data Table
Date | RA (J2000) | Dec (J2000) | Apparent Magnitude | Constellation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nov 01, 2016 | 08h 17m 58s | 19d 02m 40s | 7.9 | Cancer |
Nov 02, 2016 | 08h 18m 46s | 19d 01m 51s | 7.8 | Cancer |
Nov 03, 2016 | 08h 19m 32s | 19d 01m 07s | 7.8 | Cancer |
Nov 04, 2016 | 08h 20m 18s | 19d 00m 27s | 7.8 | Cancer |
Nov 05, 2016 | 08h 21m 02s | 18d 59m 52s | 7.8 | Cancer |
Nov 06, 2016 | 08h 21m 45s | 18d 59m 22s | 7.8 | Cancer |
Nov 07, 2016 | 08h 22m 27s | 18d 58m 57s | 7.8 | Cancer |
Nov 08, 2016 | 08h 23m 07s | 18d 58m 38s | 7.8 | Cancer |
Nov 09, 2016 | 08h 23m 46s | 18d 58m 24s | 7.7 | Cancer |
Nov 10, 2016 | 08h 24m 24s | 18d 58m 16s | 7.7 | Cancer |
Nov 11, 2016 | 08h 25m 00s | 18d 58m 14s | 7.7 | Cancer |
Nov 12, 2016 | 08h 25m 35s | 18d 58m 17s | 7.7 | Cancer |
Nov 13, 2016 | 08h 26m 09s | 18d 58m 27s | 7.7 | Cancer |
Nov 14, 2016 | 08h 26m 41s | 18d 58m 42s | 7.7 | Cancer |
Nov 15, 2016 | 08h 27m 12s | 18d 59m 04s | 7.6 | Cancer |
Nov 16, 2016 | 08h 27m 41s | 18d 59m 33s | 7.6 | Cancer |
Nov 17, 2016 | 08h 28m 09s | 19d 00m 08s | 7.6 | Cancer |
Nov 18, 2016 | 08h 28m 35s | 19d 00m 50s | 7.6 | Cancer |
Nov 19, 2016 | 08h 28m 60s | 19d 01m 39s | 7.6 | Cancer |
Nov 20, 2016 | 08h 29m 23s | 19d 02m 35s | 7.5 | Cancer |
Nov 21, 2016 | 08h 29m 45s | 19d 03m 38s | 7.5 | Cancer |
Nov 22, 2016 | 08h 30m 04s | 19d 04m 49s | 7.5 | Cancer |
Nov 23, 2016 | 08h 30m 23s | 19d 06m 07s | 7.5 | Cancer |
Nov 24, 2016 | 08h 30m 40s | 19d 07m 32s | 7.5 | Cancer |
Nov 25, 2016 | 08h 30m 55s | 19d 09m 05s | 7.5 | Cancer |
Nov 26, 2016 | 08h 31m 08s | 19d 10m 46s | 7.4 | Cancer |
Nov 27, 2016 | 08h 31m 20s | 19d 12m 35s | 7.4 | Cancer |
Nov 28, 2016 | 08h 31m 30s | 19d 14m 31s | 7.4 | Cancer |
Nov 29, 2016 | 08h 31m 38s | 19d 16m 36s | 7.4 | Cancer |
Nov 30, 2016 | 08h 31m 44s | 19d 18m 49s | 7.4 | Cancer |
Dec 01, 2016 | 08h 31m 49s | 19d 21m 09s | 7.3 | Cancer |
Dec 02, 2016 | 08h 31m 52s | 19d 23m 38s | 7.3 | Cancer |
Dec 03, 2016 | 08h 31m 53s | 19d 26m 16s | 7.3 | Cancer |
Dec 04, 2016 | 08h 31m 52s | 19d 29m 01s | 7.3 | Cancer |
Dec 05, 2016 | 08h 31m 50s | 19d 31m 55s | 7.3 | Cancer |
Dec 06, 2016 | 08h 31m 46s | 19d 34m 57s | 7.2 | Cancer |
Dec 07, 2016 | 08h 31m 39s | 19d 38m 07s | 7.2 | Cancer |
Dec 08, 2016 | 08h 31m 31s | 19d 41m 26s | 7.2 | Cancer |
Dec 09, 2016 | 08h 31m 22s | 19d 44m 52s | 7.2 | Cancer |
Dec 10, 2016 | 08h 31m 10s | 19d 48m 27s | 7.1 | Cancer |
Dec 11, 2016 | 08h 30m 56s | 19d 52m 11s | 7.1 | Cancer |
Dec 12, 2016 | 08h 30m 41s | 19d 56m 02s | 7.1 | Cancer |
Dec 13, 2016 | 08h 30m 24s | 20d 00m 01s | 7.1 | Cancer |
Dec 14, 2016 | 08h 30m 05s | 20d 04m 08s | 7.1 | Cancer |
Dec 15, 2016 | 08h 29m 44s | 20d 08m 24s | 7.0 | Cancer |
Dec 16, 2016 | 08h 29m 21s | 20d 12m 47s | 7.0 | Cancer |
Dec 17, 2016 | 08h 28m 56s | 20d 17m 17s | 7.0 | Cancer |
Dec 18, 2016 | 08h 28m 30s | 20d 21m 55s | 7.0 | Cancer |
Dec 19, 2016 | 08h 28m 02s | 20d 26m 41s | 7.0 | Cancer |
Dec 20, 2016 | 08h 27m 31s | 20d 31m 33s | 6.9 | Cancer |
Dec 21, 2016 | 08h 26m 59s | 20d 36m 33s | 6.9 | Cancer |
Dec 22, 2016 | 08h 26m 26s | 20d 41m 40s | 6.9 | Cancer |
Dec 23, 2016 | 08h 25m 50s | 20d 46m 53s | 6.9 | Cancer |
Dec 24, 2016 | 08h 25m 13s | 20d 52m 12s | 6.8 | Cancer |
Dec 25, 2016 | 08h 24m 34s | 20d 57m 38s | 6.8 | Cancer |
Dec 26, 2016 | 08h 23m 53s | 21d 03m 09s | 6.8 | Cancer |
Dec 27, 2016 | 08h 23m 11s | 21d 08m 46s | 6.8 | Cancer |
Dec 28, 2016 | 08h 22m 27s | 21d 14m 28s | 6.7 | Cancer |
Dec 29, 2016 | 08h 21m 41s | 21d 20m 15s | 6.7 | Cancer |
Dec 30, 2016 | 08h 20m 54s | 21d 26m 07s | 6.7 | Cancer |
Dec 31, 2016 | 08h 20m 05s | 21d 32m 02s | 6.7 | Cancer |
Jan 01, 2017 | 08h 19m 15s | 21d 38m 02s | 6.7 | Cancer |
Jan 02, 2017 | 08h 18m 23s | 21d 44m 05s | 6.6 | Cancer |
Jan 03, 2017 | 08h 17m 30s | 21d 50m 12s | 6.6 | Cancer |
Jan 04, 2017 | 08h 16m 36s | 21d 56m 21s | 6.6 | Cancer |
Jan 05, 2017 | 08h 15m 40s | 22d 02m 32s | 6.6 | Cancer |
Jan 06, 2017 | 08h 14m 44s | 22d 08m 46s | 6.5 | Cancer |
Jan 07, 2017 | 08h 13m 46s | 22d 15m 00s | 6.5 | Cancer |
Jan 08, 2017 | 08h 12m 47s | 22d 21m 16s | 6.5 | Cancer |
Jan 09, 2017 | 08h 11m 47s | 22d 27m 33s | 6.5 | Cancer |
Jan 10, 2017 | 08h 10m 47s | 22d 33m 50s | 6.4 | Cancer |
Jan 11, 2017 | 08h 09m 45s | 22d 40m 07s | 6.4 | Cancer |
Jan 12, 2017 | 08h 08m 43s | 22d 46m 24s | 6.4 | Cancer |
Jan 13, 2017 | 08h 07m 40s | 22d 52m 40s | 6.4 | Cancer |
Jan 14, 2017 | 08h 06m 36s | 22d 58m 54s | 6.3 | Cancer |
Jan 15, 2017 | 08h 05m 32s | 23d 05m 07s | 6.3 | Cancer |
Jan 16, 2017 | 08h 04m 28s | 23d 11m 17s | 6.3 | Cancer |
Jan 17, 2017 | 08h 03m 23s | 23d 17m 26s | 6.2 | Cancer |
Jan 18, 2017 | 08h 02m 18s | 23d 23m 31s | 6.2 | Cancer |
Jan 19, 2017 | 08h 01m 12s | 23d 29m 33s | 6.3 | Cancer |
Jan 20, 2017 | 08h 00m 07s | 23d 35m 32s | 6.3 | Gemini |
Jan 21, 2017 | 07h 59m 01s | 23d 41m 26s | 6.3 | Gemini |
Jan 22, 2017 | 07h 57m 55s | 23d 47m 17s | 6.3 | Gemini |
Jan 23, 2017 | 07h 56m 50s | 23d 53m 03s | 6.3 | Gemini |
Jan 24, 2017 | 07h 55m 45s | 23d 58m 44s | 6.4 | Gemini |
Jan 25, 2017 | 07h 54m 40s | 24d 04m 19s | 6.4 | Gemini |
Jan 26, 2017 | 07h 53m 35s | 24d 09m 49s | 6.4 | Gemini |
Jan 27, 2017 | 07h 52m 32s | 24d 15m 14s | 6.4 | Gemini |
Jan 28, 2017 | 07h 51m 28s | 24d 20m 32s | 6.5 | Gemini |
Jan 29, 2017 | 07h 50m 26s | 24d 25m 44s | 6.5 | Gemini |
Jan 30, 2017 | 07h 49m 24s | 24d 30m 50s | 6.5 | Gemini |
Jan 31, 2017 | 07h 48m 23s | 24d 35m 49s | 6.5 | Gemini |
Feb 01, 2017 | 07h 47m 22s | 24d 40m 41s | 6.5 | Gemini |
Feb 02, 2017 | 07h 46m 23s | 24d 45m 26s | 6.6 | Gemini |
Feb 03, 2017 | 07h 45m 25s | 24d 50m 04s | 6.6 | Gemini |
Feb 04, 2017 | 07h 44m 28s | 24d 54m 34s | 6.6 | Gemini |
Feb 05, 2017 | 07h 43m 33s | 24d 58m 58s | 6.6 | Gemini |
Feb 06, 2017 | 07h 42m 38s | 25d 03m 13s | 6.6 | Gemini |
Feb 07, 2017 | 07h 41m 45s | 25d 07m 22s | 6.7 | Gemini |
Feb 08, 2017 | 07h 40m 54s | 25d 11m 23s | 6.7 | Gemini |
Feb 09, 2017 | 07h 40m 03s | 25d 15m 16s | 6.7 | Gemini |
Feb 10, 2017 | 07h 39m 15s | 25d 19m 02s | 6.7 | Gemini |
Feb 11, 2017 | 07h 38m 28s | 25d 22m 40s | 6.7 | Gemini |
Feb 12, 2017 | 07h 37m 42s | 25d 26m 10s | 6.8 | Gemini |
Feb 13, 2017 | 07h 36m 58s | 25d 29m 33s | 6.8 | Gemini |
Feb 14, 2017 | 07h 36m 16s | 25d 32m 48s | 6.8 | Gemini |
Feb 15, 2017 | 07h 35m 36s | 25d 35m 56s | 6.8 | Gemini |
Feb 16, 2017 | 07h 34m 57s | 25d 38m 56s | 6.8 | Gemini |
Feb 17, 2017 | 07h 34m 20s | 25d 41m 49s | 6.9 | Gemini |
Feb 18, 2017 | 07h 33m 45s | 25d 44m 34s | 6.9 | Gemini |
Feb 19, 2017 | 07h 33m 12s | 25d 47m 12s | 6.9 | Gemini |
Feb 20, 2017 | 07h 32m 41s | 25d 49m 43s | 6.9 | Gemini |
Feb 21, 2017 | 07h 32m 12s | 25d 52m 06s | 6.9 | Gemini |
Feb 22, 2017 | 07h 31m 44s | 25d 54m 22s | 7.0 | Gemini |
Feb 23, 2017 | 07h 31m 19s | 25d 56m 31s | 7.0 | Gemini |
Feb 24, 2017 | 07h 30m 55s | 25d 58m 33s | 7.0 | Gemini |
Feb 25, 2017 | 07h 30m 34s | 26d 00m 28s | 7.0 | Gemini |
Feb 26, 2017 | 07h 30m 14s | 26d 02m 16s | 7.0 | Gemini |
Feb 27, 2017 | 07h 29m 57s | 26d 03m 57s | 7.1 | Gemini |
Feb 28, 2017 | 07h 29m 41s | 26d 05m 32s | 7.1 | Gemini |
Mar 01, 2017 | 07h 29m 28s | 26d 06m 60s | 7.1 | Gemini |
Mar 02, 2017 | 07h 29m 17s | 26d 08m 21s | 7.1 | Gemini |
Mar 03, 2017 | 07h 29m 07s | 26d 09m 36s | 7.1 | Gemini |
Mar 04, 2017 | 07h 29m 00s | 26d 10m 45s | 7.2 | Gemini |
Mar 05, 2017 | 07h 28m 55s | 26d 11m 47s | 7.2 | Gemini |
Mar 06, 2017 | 07h 28m 52s | 26d 12m 44s | 7.2 | Gemini |
Mar 07, 2017 | 07h 28m 50s | 26d 13m 34s | 7.2 | Gemini |
Mar 08, 2017 | 07h 28m 51s | 26d 14m 18s | 7.2 | Gemini |
Mar 09, 2017 | 07h 28m 54s | 26d 14m 57s | 7.2 | Gemini |
Mar 10, 2017 | 07h 28m 58s | 26d 15m 30s | 7.3 | Gemini |
Mar 11, 2017 | 07h 29m 05s | 26d 15m 57s | 7.3 | Gemini |
Mar 12, 2017 | 07h 29m 13s | 26d 16m 18s | 7.3 | Gemini |
Mar 13, 2017 | 07h 29m 24s | 26d 16m 34s | 7.3 | Gemini |
Mar 14, 2017 | 07h 29m 36s | 26d 16m 45s | 7.3 | Gemini |
Mar 15, 2017 | 07h 29m 50s | 26d 16m 50s | 7.3 | Gemini |
Mar 16, 2017 | 07h 30m 06s | 26d 16m 49s | 7.4 | Gemini |
Mar 17, 2017 | 07h 30m 24s | 26d 16m 44s | 7.4 | Gemini |
Mar 18, 2017 | 07h 30m 44s | 26d 16m 33s | 7.4 | Gemini |
Mar 19, 2017 | 07h 31m 05s | 26d 16m 17s | 7.4 | Gemini |
Mar 20, 2017 | 07h 31m 29s | 26d 15m 55s | 7.4 | Gemini |
Mar 21, 2017 | 07h 31m 53s | 26d 15m 29s | 7.4 | Gemini |
Mar 22, 2017 | 07h 32m 20s | 26d 14m 57s | 7.5 | Gemini |
Mar 23, 2017 | 07h 32m 49s | 26d 14m 20s | 7.5 | Gemini |
Mar 24, 2017 | 07h 33m 19s | 26d 13m 39s | 7.5 | Gemini |
Mar 25, 2017 | 07h 33m 51s | 26d 12m 52s | 7.5 | Gemini |
Mar 26, 2017 | 07h 34m 24s | 26d 12m 00s | 7.5 | Gemini |
Mar 27, 2017 | 07h 34m 59s | 26d 11m 03s | 7.5 | Gemini |
Mar 28, 2017 | 07h 35m 36s | 26d 10m 02s | 7.6 | Gemini |
Mar 29, 2017 | 07h 36m 14s | 26d 08m 56s | 7.6 | Gemini |
Mar 30, 2017 | 07h 36m 54s | 26d 07m 44s | 7.6 | Gemini |
Mar 31, 2017 | 07h 37m 35s | 26d 06m 28s | 7.6 | Gemini |