What telescope do I need to see Didymos?

At magnitude 14.3, Didymos is a challenging target that needs at least an 8-inch (200 mm) telescope and dark skies.

Didymos — Ophiuchus의 지구근접천체

65803 Didymos, 1996 GT

등급 14.3^m NearEarthObject Ophiuchus 관측 가능

성도 3D 태양계 + 목록 + 계획 스타 호핑

특성

등급 14.3

설명

Type: Near-Earth Object

Distance: 1.643 AU

Orbital Period: 768.9 days

Diameter: 1 km

Features: Equatorial ridge typical of fast rotators; rubble-pile structure

Binary asteroid system: a roughly 780 m S-type primary with a small ~150 m moonlet (Dimorphos). Target of NASA's DART mission, the first planetary-defence test, which impacted Dimorphos in September 2022 and shortened its orbital period by ~33 minutes. ESA's Hera mission visits in late 2026.

위치 & 식별자

RA 16h 36m 26.2s

Dec -22° 40' 46.0"

별자리 Ophiuchus

카탈로그 Didymos

물리적 특성

직경 1 km

질량 5.28e11 kg

알베도 0.15 (15% reflected)

자전 2.3 hours

표면 Equatorial ridge typical of fast rotators; rubble-pile structure

시직경 0.0″ (current)

궤도 요소

긴반지름 1.6426 AU (245.7 million km)

이심률 0.3832

궤도경사 3.41°

공전주기 2.11 years

거리 0.915 AU (7.6 light-min)

이각 166.3° Near opposition

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.

관측 팁

가시성 Large telescope only at close approach

관측 위치 Near-Earth asteroid (Apollo group); inner-Earth crosser

참고 Binary asteroid system: a roughly 780 m S-type primary with a small ~150 m moonlet (Dimorphos). Target of NASA's DART mission, the first planetary-defence test, which impacted Dimorphos in September 2022 and shortened its orbital period by ~33 minutes. ESA's Hera mission visits in late 2026.