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Irene — Asteroid in Sagittarius

14 Irene

Asteroid Sagittarius Visible
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Properties

Magnitude 8.6
Type: Asteroid
Distance: 2.588 AU
Orbital Period: 1520.6 days
Diameter: 152 km
Greek goddess of peace; S-type; reaches mag 8.6 at perihelic oppositions, near the binocular limit.

Position & Identifiers

RA 18h 04m 09.6s
Dec -20° 03' 31.9"
Constellation Sagittarius
Catalog Irene

Physical Properties

Diameter 152 km
Mass 5.6e18 kg
Albedo 0.16 (16% reflected)
Rotation 15.0 hours
Angular Size 0.1″ (current)

Orbital Properties

Semi-major Axis 2.5879 AU (387.1 million km)
Eccentricity 0.1627
Inclination 9.13°
Orbital Period 4.16 years
Distance 1.605 AU (13.4 light-min)
Elongation 128.8° 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.

9.010.011.0MayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprpeak 9.0 · 4 JunnowMagnitude↑ brighter

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 April , May , June
Visibility Telescope
Where to Look In asteroid belt
Notes Greek goddess of peace; S-type; reaches mag 8.6 at perihelic oppositions, near the binocular limit.

Discovery

Discovered by John Russell Hind
Date 1851-05-19

Current Ephemeris

1.605
AU from Earth
240.1M
km
0.1
Angular Size
129°
Elongation

How easy to spot?

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Telescope Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
80mm refr. Easy Medium+ Medium+
150mm Newt. Easy Easy Easy
C8 203mm Easy Easy Easy
Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

Easy on Seestar S50

Visibility

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Community Photos (1)

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

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

Credit: Nightbase orrery render.

Skybred Apr 27, 2026

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