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 — Astéroïde dans Pisces

532 Herculina

Asteroid Pisces Visible

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

Carte du Ciel Système Solaire 3D + Liste + Plan

Propriétés

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 et Identifiants

RA 00h 44m 33.6s

Dec -08° 36' 43.9"

Constellation Pisces

Catalogue Herculina

Wikipedia

Propriétés Physiques

Diamètre 222 km

Masse 1.0e19 kg

Albédo 0.20 (20% reflected)

Rotation 9.4 hours

Taille angulaire 0.1″ (current)

Propriétés orbitales

Demi-grand axe 2.7700 AU (414.4 million km)

Excentricité 0.1802

Inclinaison 16.30°

Période orbitale 4.61 years

Distance 4.038 AU (33.6 light-min)

Élongation 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.