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 — Asteroide en Sagittarius

18 Melpomene

Asteroid Sagittarius Visible

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

Mapa Estelar Sistema Solar 3D + Lista + Plan

Propiedades

Magnitud 8.7

Descripción

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).

Posición e Identificadores

RA 19h 23m 02.6s

Dec -10° 19' 36.0"

Constelación Sagittarius

Catálogo Melpomene

Wikipedia

Propiedades Físicas

Diámetro 140 km

Masa 3.6e18 kg

Albedo 0.18 (18% reflected)

Rotación 11.6 hours

Tamaño angular 0.1″ (current)

Propiedades orbitales

Semieje mayor 2.2956 AU (343.4 million km)

Excentricidad 0.2180

Inclinación 10.13°

Período orbital 3.48 years

Distancia 1.858 AU (15.5 light-min)

Elongación 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.