What telescope do I need to see Herculina?

At magnitude 8.5, Herculina is within reach of a 3-inch (80 mm) telescope from a moderate-Bortle site.

Herculina — Asteroid in Pisces

532 Herculina

Asteroid Pisces Visible

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

Star Map 3D Solar System + List + Plan

Properties

Magnitude 8.5

Description

Type: Asteroid

Distance: 2.770 AU

Orbital Period: 1683.9 days

Diameter: 222 km

Feminine of Hercules; S-type; brightest non-cataloged main-belt asteroid by peak opposition magnitude (~8.5). Fast rotator (9.4 h).

Position & Identifiers

RA 00h 44m 33.7s

Dec -08° 36' 43.7"

Constellation Pisces

Catalog Herculina

Wikipedia

Physical Properties

Diameter 222 km

Mass 1.0e19 kg

Albedo 0.20 (20% reflected)

Rotation 9.4 hours

Angular Size 0.1″ (current)

Orbital Properties

Semi-major Axis 2.7700 AU (414.4 million km)

Eccentricity 0.1802

Inclination 16.30°

Orbital Period 4.61 years

Distance 4.038 AU (33.6 light-min)

Elongation 35.0° 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.