Vesta the brightest asteroid or minor planet is currently easily visible with binoculars and small telescopes as it reaches opposition on June 20th. In addition, this opposition is extremely favourable and keen eyed observers, from dark locations, may even be able to glimpse the asteroid with the naked eye. Vesta shines at magnitude +5.3 for a few days either side of June 20th. It stays above magnitude +6.0 until the middle of July, and remains bright enough to be easily followed for the next few months with binoculars and small scopes.
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 in the main asteroid belt after Ceres and Pallas. However, Vesta is the brightest asteroid because it approaches closer to Earth and has a higher albedo or reflective surface.
Location
The asteroid starts June moving retrograde in Sagittarius, a few degrees west of the Sagittarius star cloud (M24). At the start of the month, Saturn (mag. 0.0) is positioned 5 degrees southeast of Vesta. The much brighter ringed planet is also moving retrograde, although at a much slower pace, and reaches opposition on June 27th. On June 15th, Vesta passed less than half a degree south of magnitude +6.9 globular cluster, M23. It then crosses the constellation boundary into Ophiuchus on June 28th, where it remains until the beginning of September. During June, 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 June 23rd to 30th the bright Moon nearby will somewhat interfere with observations.
With a declination of about -20 degrees, Vesta like Saturn is currently much better placed from southern and tropical locations. It appears higher in the sky and has a longer visibility period than from northern temperate latitudes. At opposition it will be 1.142 AU (approx. 170.8 million kilometres or 106.2 million miles) distant from Earth.
Vesta Data Table
| Date | RA (J2000) | DEC (J2000) | Apparent Mag. | Constellation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15 | 18h 18m 43.0s | -17d 52m 27.2s | 6.2 | Sagittarius |
| May 16 | 18h 18m 28.2s | -17d 54m 18.0s | 6.1 | Sagittarius |
| May 17 | 18h 18m 11.4s | -17d 56m 14.1s | 6.1 | Sagittarius |
| May 18 | 18h 17m 52.5s | -17d 58m 15.3s | 6.1 | Sagittarius |
| May 19 | 18h 17m 31.6s | -18d 00m 21.8s | 6.1 | Sagittarius |
| May 20 | 18h 17m 08.7s | -18d 02m 33.5s | 6.0 | Sagittarius |
| May 21 | 18h 16m 43.8s | -18d 04m 50.5s | 6.0 | Sagittarius |
| May 22 | 18h 16m 16.9s | -18d 07m 12.7s | 6.0 | Sagittarius |
| May 23 | 18h 15m 48.1s | -18d 09m 40.1s | 6.0 | Sagittarius |
| May 24 | 18h 15m 17.4s | -18d 12m 12.8s | 5.9 | Sagittarius |
| May 25 | 18h 14m 44.8s | -18d 14m 50.6s | 5.9 | Sagittarius |
| May 26 | 18h 14m 10.4s | -18d 17m 33.5s | 5.9 | Sagittarius |
| May 27 | 18h 13m 34.2s | -18d 20m 21.5s | 5.9 | Sagittarius |
| May 28 | 18h 12m 56.2s | -18d 23m 14.4s | 5.8 | Sagittarius |
| May 29 | 18h 12m 16.4s | -18d 26m 12.3s | 5.8 | Sagittarius |
| May 30 | 18h 11m 35.0s | -18d 29m 15.1s | 5.8 | Sagittarius |
| May 31 | 18h 10m 51.9s | -18d 32m 22.5s | 5.8 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 01 | 18h 10m 07.2s | -18d 35m 34.6s | 5.8 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 02 | 18h 09m 21.0s | -18d 38m 51.3s | 5.7 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 03 | 18h 08m 33.2s | -18d 42m 12.3s | 5.7 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 04 | 18h 07m 44.1s | -18d 45m 37.6s | 5.7 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 05 | 18h 06m 53.5s | -18d 49m 07.0s | 5.7 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 06 | 18h 06m 01.6s | -18d 52m 40.5s | 5.6 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 07 | 18h 05m 08.5s | -18d 56m 17.8s | 5.6 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 08 | 18h 04m 14.2s | -18d 59m 58.8s | 5.6 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 09 | 18h 03m 18.8s | -19d 03m 43.3s | 5.6 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 10 | 18h 02m 22.4s | -19d 07m 31.2s | 5.5 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 11 | 18h 01m 25.0s | -19d 11m 22.4s | 5.5 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 12 | 18h 00m 26.7s | -19d 15m 16.5s | 5.5 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 13 | 17h 59m 27.7s | -19d 19m 13.6s | 5.5 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 14 | 17h 58m 28.0s | -19d 23m 13.4s | 5.4 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 15 | 17h 57m 27.8s | -19d 27m 15.7s | 5.4 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 16 | 17h 56m 27.0s | -19d 31m 20.5s | 5.4 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 17 | 17h 55m 25.8s | -19d 35m 27.4s | 5.4 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 18 | 17h 54m 24.4s | -19d 39m 36.4s | 5.3 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 19 | 17h 53m 22.7s | -19d 43m 47.3s | 5.3 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 20 | 17h 52m 21.0s | -19d 47m 59.9s | 5.3 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 21 | 17h 51m 19.2s | -19d 52m 14.0s | 5.3 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 22 | 17h 50m 17.5s | -19d 56m 29.6s | 5.3 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 23 | 17h 49m 16.0s | -20d 00m 46.4s | 5.4 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 24 | 17h 48m 14.8s | -20d 05m 04.3s | 5.4 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 25 | 17h 47m 14.0s | -20d 09m 23.1s | 5.4 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 26 | 17h 46m 13.5s | -20d 13m 42.8s | 5.5 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 27 | 17h 45m 13.7s | -20d 18m 03.1s | 5.5 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 28 | 17h 44m 14.4s | -20d 22m 23.9s | 5.5 | Sagittarius |
| Jun 29 | 17h 43m 15.8s | -20d 26m 45.2s | 5.5 | Ophiuchus |
| Jun 30 | 17h 42m 18.1s | -20d 31m 06.7s | 5.5 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 01 | 17h 41m 21.2s | -20d 35m 28.4s | 5.6 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 02 | 17h 40m 25.2s | -20d 39m 50.1s | 5.6 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 03 | 17h 39m 30.3s | -20d 44m 11.8s | 5.6 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 04 | 17h 38m 36.4s | -20d 48m 33.4s | 5.7 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 05 | 17h 37m 43.8s | -20d 52m 54.8s | 5.7 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 06 | 17h 36m 52.4s | -20d 57m 15.8s | 5.7 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 07 | 17h 36m 02.3s | -21d 01m 36.5s | 5.7 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 08 | 17h 35m 13.5s | -21d 05m 56.7s | 5.8 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 09 | 17h 34m 26.3s | -21d 10m 16.5s | 5.8 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 10 | 17h 33m 40.5s | -21d 14m 35.7s | 5.8 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 11 | 17h 32m 56.4s | -21d 18m 54.3s | 5.8 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 12 | 17h 32m 13.8s | -21d 23m 12.3s | 5.8 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 13 | 17h 31m 33.0s | -21d 27m 29.6s | 5.9 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 14 | 17h 30m 53.9s | -21d 31m 46.2s | 5.9 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 15 | 17h 30m 16.6s | -21d 36m 02.1s | 5.9 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 16 | 17h 29m 41.1s | -21d 40m 17.2s | 6.0 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 17 | 17h 29m 07.6s | -21d 44m 31.6s | 6.0 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 18 | 17h 28m 35.9s | -21d 48m 45.2s | 6.0 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 19 | 17h 28m 06.2s | -21d 52m 58.0s | 6.0 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 20 | 17h 27m 38.5s | -21d 57m 10.0s | 6.0 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 21 | 17h 27m 12.7s | -22d 01m 21.1s | 6.1 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 22 | 17h 26m 49.0s | -22d 05m 31.3s | 6.1 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 23 | 17h 26m 27.4s | -22d 09m 40.6s | 6.1 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 24 | 17h 26m 07.7s | -22d 13m 49.0s | 6.1 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 25 | 17h 25m 50.2s | -22d 17m 56.4s | 6.2 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 26 | 17h 25m 34.7s | -22d 22m 02.8s | 6.2 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 27 | 17h 25m 21.3s | -22d 26m 08.3s | 6.2 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 28 | 17h 25m 09.9s | -22d 30m 12.7s | 6.2 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 29 | 17h 25m 00.7s | -22d 34m 16.0s | 6.3 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 30 | 17h 24m 53.5s | -22d 38m 18.2s | 6.3 | Ophiuchus |
| Jul 31 | 17h 24m 48.4s | -22d 42m 19.3s | 6.3 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 01 | 17h 24m 45.4s | -22d 46m 19.2s | 6.3 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 02 | 17h 24m 44.5s | -22d 50m 18.0s | 6.3 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 03 | 17h 24m 45.6s | -22d 54m 15.5s | 6.4 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 04 | 17h 24m 48.8s | -22d 58m 11.7s | 6.4 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 05 | 17h 24m 54.1s | -23d 02m 06.7s | 6.4 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 06 | 17h 25m 01.5s | -23d 06m 00.4s | 6.4 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 07 | 17h 25m 10.9s | -23d 09m 52.7s | 6.5 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 08 | 17h 25m 22.3s | -23d 13m 43.6s | 6.5 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 09 | 17h 25m 35.8s | -23d 17m 33.0s | 6.5 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 10 | 17h 25m 51.3s | -23d 21m 21.1s | 6.5 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 11 | 17h 26m 08.8s | -23d 25m 07.6s | 6.5 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 12 | 17h 26m 28.3s | -23d 28m 52.6s | 6.6 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 13 | 17h 26m 49.8s | -23d 32m 36.0s | 6.6 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 14 | 17h 27m 13.3s | -23d 36m 17.8s | 6.6 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 15 | 17h 27m 38.7s | -23d 39m 58.0s | 6.6 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 16 | 17h 28m 06.1s | -23d 43m 36.4s | 6.7 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 17 | 17h 28m 35.4s | -23d 47m 13.0s | 6.7 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 18 | 17h 29m 06.5s | -23d 50m 47.8s | 6.7 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 19 | 17h 29m 39.5s | -23d 54m 20.6s | 6.7 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 20 | 17h 30m 14.4s | -23d 57m 51.5s | 6.7 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 21 | 17h 30m 51.1s | -24d 01m 20.4s | 6.8 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 22 | 17h 31m 29.5s | -24d 04m 47.1s | 6.8 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 23 | 17h 32m 09.7s | -24d 08m 11.7s | 6.8 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 24 | 17h 32m 51.7s | -24d 11m 34.0s | 6.8 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 25 | 17h 33m 35.3s | -24d 14m 53.9s | 6.8 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 26 | 17h 34m 20.7s | -24d 18m 11.5s | 6.9 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 27 | 17h 35m 07.7s | -24d 21m 26.6s | 6.9 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 28 | 17h 35m 56.4s | -24d 24m 39.1s | 6.9 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 29 | 17h 36m 46.6s | -24d 27m 49.0s | 6.9 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 30 | 17h 37m 38.5s | -24d 30m 56.2s | 6.9 | Ophiuchus |
| Aug 31 | 17h 38m 31.9s | -24d 34m 00.6s | 7.0 | Ophiuchus |
| Sep 01 | 17h 39m 26.9s | -24d 37m 02.1s | 7.0 | Ophiuchus |
| Sep 02 | 17h 40m 23.4s | -24d 40m 00.8s | 7.0 | Ophiuchus |
| Sep 03 | 17h 41m 21.5s | -24d 42m 56.4s | 7.0 | Ophiuchus |
| Sep 04 | 17h 42m 21.0s | -24d 45m 48.9s | 7.0 | Ophiuchus |
| Sep 05 | 17h 43m 21.9s | -24d 48m 38.3s | 7.0 | Ophiuchus |
| Sep 06 | 17h 44m 24.4s | -24d 51m 24.5s | 7.1 | Sagittarius |
| Sep 07 | 17h 45m 28.2s | -24d 54m 07.4s | 7.1 | Sagittarius |
| Sep 08 | 17h 46m 33.5s | -24d 56m 46.9s | 7.1 | Sagittarius |
| Sep 09 | 17h 47m 40.1s | -24d 59m 23.0s | 7.1 | Sagittarius |
| Sep 10 | 17h 48m 48.1s | -25d 01m 55.6s | 7.1 | Sagittarius |
| Sep 11 | 17h 49m 57.5s | -25d 04m 24.6s | 7.1 | Sagittarius |
| Sep 12 | 17h 51m 08.2s | -25d 06m 49.9s | 7.2 | Sagittarius |
| Sep 13 | 17h 52m 20.1s | -25d 09m 11.6s | 7.2 | Sagittarius |
| Sep 14 | 17h 53m 33.4s | -25d 11m 29.4s | 7.2 | Sagittarius |