What telescope do I need to see Bamberga?

At magnitude 8.0, Bamberga is easy in 7×50 or 10×50 binoculars.

Bamberga — Asteroid in Capricornus

324 Bamberga

Asteroid Capricornus Visible

Rendered preview of Bamberga from the Nightbase orrery, lit from the current Sun direction with the terminator visible.

Star Map 3D Solar System + List + Plan

Properties

Magnitude 8.0

Description

Type: Asteroid

Distance: 2.682 AU

Orbital Period: 1604.6 days

Diameter: 230 km

Named for the Bavarian city of Bamberg; CP-type, slow rotator (29 h). Highly eccentric orbit (e=0.34) brings it to mag 8.0 at perihelic oppositions — among the brightest non-top-10 asteroids when favourably placed.

Position & Identifiers

RA 20h 31m 48.4s

Dec -28° 59' 43.1"

Constellation Capricornus

Catalog Bamberga

Wikipedia

Physical Properties

Diameter 230 km

Mass 1.0e19 kg

Albedo 0.06 (6% reflected)

Rotation 29.4 hours

Angular Size 0.2″ (current)

Orbital Properties

Semi-major Axis 2.6824 AU (401.3 million km)

Eccentricity 0.3404

Inclination 11.10°

Orbital Period 4.39 years

Distance 2.098 AU (17.4 light-min)

Elongation 96.7° Good

Brightness Forecast (next 12 months)

Apparent magnitude as Earth–asteroid distance changes through the year. The peak marks the brightest moment in the window — usually around opposition, when the asteroid is closest and fully illuminated.

Computed from JPL orbital elements via m = H + 5·log₁₀(r·Δ). Phase-function correction is omitted, so curves trace distance variation only — accurate within a few tenths for main-belt asteroids; coarse for fast-moving NEOs near Earth.

Observing Tips

Best Months September , October , November

Visibility Telescope

Where to Look In asteroid belt

Notes Named for the Bavarian city of Bamberg; CP-type, slow rotator (29 h). Highly eccentric orbit (e=0.34) brings it to mag 8.0 at perihelic oppositions — among the brightest non-top-10 asteroids when favourably placed.