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Kalliope — Asteroid in Aries

22 Kalliope

Asteroid Aries Visible
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Properties

Magnitude 10.6
Type: Asteroid
Distance: 2.909 AU
Orbital Period: 1812.7 days
Diameter: 167 km
Muse of epic poetry; M-type (metallic) binary asteroid — orbited by small moon Linus discovered 2001.

Position & Identifiers

RA 02h 44m 44.2s
Dec +11° 52' 34.7"
Constellation Aries
Catalog Kalliope

Physical Properties

Diameter 167 km
Mass 8.2e18 kg
Albedo 0.17 (17% reflected)
Rotation 4.1 hours
Angular Size 0.1″ (current)

Orbital Properties

Semi-major Axis 2.9095 AU (435.2 million km)
Eccentricity 0.0989
Inclination 13.70°
Orbital Period 4.96 years
Distance 3.641 AU (30.3 light-min)
Elongation 4.6° Near Sun

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.

10.011.0MayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprpeak 9.7 · 31 DecnowMagnitude↑ 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 June , July , August
Visibility Telescope
Where to Look In asteroid belt
Notes Muse of epic poetry; M-type (metallic) binary asteroid — orbited by small moon Linus discovered 2001.

Discovery

Discovered by John Russell Hind
Date 1852-11-16

Current Ephemeris

3.641
AU from Earth
544.6M
km
0.1
Angular Size
Elongation

How easy to spot?

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

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

Medium on Seestar S50

Visibility

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Community Photos (1)

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

Rendered preview of Kalliope 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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