Hebe

Hebe is an S-type asteroid with a diameter of 195 km, orbiting at 2.43 AU in the asteroid belt. It is one of the most massive S-type asteroids and is thought to be the primary source of H chondrite meteorites — the most common type of meteorite found on Earth, making up about 40% of all stony meteorite falls. Hebe's surface is composed of a mixture of silicate rock and nickel-iron metal with an albedo of 0.27, giving it a moderately bright appearance. Its high bulk density suggests an extremely solid, compact body with little internal porosity. Hebe contains roughly 0.5% of the total mass of the asteroid belt.

At opposition, Hebe reaches about magnitude 7.5, making it visible in binoculars under good conditions and an easy target for small telescopes. Its brightness typically ranges from magnitude 8 to 10. Hebe's position in the inner-to-middle asteroid belt means it moves at a moderate pace against the background stars. Best viewing months are typically July through September. Use an ephemeris to plot its position and confirm identification through its nightly motion. Like all asteroids, it appears as a star-like point even in large amateur telescopes.

Hebe was discovered on July 1, 1847 by German amateur astronomer Karl Ludwig Hencke, who had spent 15 years searching for new asteroids after the long gap following the discovery of Vesta in 1807. It was the sixth asteroid discovered and was named after Hebe, the Greek goddess of youth and cupbearer of the gods on Mount Olympus. Hencke's persistence in asteroid hunting — after 15 years with no new discoveries by anyone — earned him a pension from the King of Prussia. No spacecraft has visited Hebe.