Psyche
16 Psyche
Psyche
Asteroid
Taurus
Visible
Level 5
Expert level - Timing dependent
Properties
Magnitude
9.2
Type: Asteroid
Distance: 2.923 AU
Orbital Period: 1825.6 days
Diameter: 222 km
Features: Metal-rich surface, possible volcanic features
Target of NASA Psyche mission (launched 2023, arriving 2029); believed to be an exposed metallic core of a protoplanet; M-type asteroid composed primarily of iron and nickel; one of the most massive objects in the asteroid belt.
Position & Identifiers
RA
05h 17m 39.3s
Dec
+20° 47' 17.8"
Constellation
Taurus
Catalog
Psyche
Physical Properties
Diameter
222 km
Mass
2.72e19 kg
Albedo
0.12
(12% reflected)
Rotation
4.2 hours
Surface
Metal-rich surface, possible volcanic features
Angular Size
0.1″ (current)
Orbital Properties
Semi-major Axis
2.9233 AU
(437.3 million km)
Eccentricity
0.1343
Inclination
3.10°
Orbital Period
5.00 years
Distance
2.913 AU
(24.2 light-min)
Elongation
74.0°
Moderate
Observing Tips
Best Months
August
, September
, October
Visibility
Telescope
Where to Look
In asteroid belt
Notes
Target of NASA Psyche mission (launched 2023, arriving 2029); believed to be an exposed metallic core of a protoplanet; M-type asteroid composed primarily of iron and nickel; one of the most massive objects in the asteroid belt.
Discovery
Discovered by
Annibale de Gasparis
Date
1852-03-17
Current Ephemeris
2.913
AU from Earth
435.8M
km
0.1″
Angular Size
74°
Elongation
Visibility
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