What telescope do I need to see Europe?

At magnitude 10.2, Europe is best observed with a 6-inch (150 mm) or larger telescope.

Europe — Astéroïde dans Taurus

52 Europa, Europa (asteroid)

Asteroid Taurus Visible

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

Carte du Ciel Système Solaire 3D + Liste + Plan

Propriétés

Magnitude 10.2

Description

Type: Asteroid

Distance: 3.092 AU

Orbital Period: 1986.1 days

Diameter: 315 km

Asteroid (52) Europa — renamed Europe in Nightbase to disambiguate from Jupiter's moon Europa. C-type, low albedo (5.8%), ~315 km diameter. Named for the Phoenician princess of Greek mythology.

Position et Identifiants

RA 05h 01m 35.5s

Dec +18° 56' 37.7"

Constellation Taurus

Catalogue Europe

Wikipedia

Propriétés Physiques

Diamètre 315 km

Masse 2.4e19 kg

Albédo 0.06 (6% reflected)

Rotation 5.6 hours

Taille angulaire 0.1″ (current)

Propriétés orbitales

Demi-grand axe 3.0922 AU (462.6 million km)

Excentricité 0.1120

Inclinaison 7.48°

Période orbitale 5.44 years

Distance 3.512 AU (29.2 light-min)

Élongation 36.5° Moderate

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.

Conseils d'Observation

Meilleurs mois March , April , May

Visibilité Telescope

Où chercher In asteroid belt

Notes Asteroid (52) Europa — renamed Europe in Nightbase to disambiguate from Jupiter's moon Europa. C-type, low albedo (5.8%), ~315 km diameter. Named for the Phoenician princess of Greek mythology.