What telescope do I need to see Melpomene?

At magnitude 8.7, Melpomene is within reach of a 3-inch (80 mm) telescope from a moderate-Bortle site.

Melpomene — Asteroid in Sagittarius

18 Melpomene

Asteroid Sagittarius Visible

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

Star Map 3D Solar System + List + Plan

Properties

Magnitude 8.7

Description

Type: Asteroid

Distance: 2.296 AU

Orbital Period: 1270.4 days

Diameter: 140 km

Greek muse of tragedy; S-type; one of the brightest minor planets at opposition (typical mag 8.7).

Position & Identifiers

RA 19h 23m 00.5s

Dec -10° 19' 50.2"

Constellation Sagittarius

Catalog Melpomene

Wikipedia

Physical Properties

Diameter 140 km

Mass 3.6e18 kg

Albedo 0.18 (18% reflected)

Rotation 11.6 hours

Angular Size 0.1″ (current)

Orbital Properties

Semi-major Axis 2.2956 AU (343.4 million km)

Eccentricity 0.2180

Inclination 10.13°

Orbital Period 3.48 years

Distance 1.859 AU (15.5 light-min)

Elongation 108.6° 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.

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.