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 — Astéroïde dans Sagittarius

18 Melpomene

Asteroid Sagittarius Visible

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

Carte du Ciel Système Solaire 3D + Liste + Plan

Propriétés

Magnitude 8.7

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 et Identifiants

RA 19h 23m 02.6s

Dec -10° 19' 35.8"

Constellation Sagittarius

Catalogue Melpomene

Wikipedia

Propriétés Physiques

Diamètre 140 km

Masse 3.6e18 kg

Albédo 0.18 (18% reflected)

Rotation 11.6 hours

Taille angulaire 0.1″ (current)

Propriétés orbitales

Demi-grand axe 2.2956 AU (343.4 million km)

Excentricité 0.2180

Inclinaison 10.13°

Période orbitale 3.48 years

Distance 1.858 AU (15.5 light-min)

Élongation 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.