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 in Sagittarius

18 Melpomene

Asteroid Sagittarius Visibile

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

Mappa stellare Sistema Solare 3D + Lista + Piano

Proprietà

Magnitudine 8.7

Descrizione

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).

Posizione e identificatori

RA 19h 23m 02.6s

Dec -10° 19' 36.0"

Costellazione Sagittarius

Catalogo Melpomene

Wikipedia

Proprietà fisiche

Diametro 140 km

Massa 3.6e18 kg

Albedo 0.18 (18% reflected)

Rotazione 11.6 hours

Dimensione angolare 0.1″ (current)

Proprietà orbitali

Semiasse maggiore 2.2956 AU (343.4 million km)

Eccentricità 0.2180

Inclinazione 10.13°

Periodo orbitale 3.48 years

Distanza 1.858 AU (15.5 light-min)

Elongazione 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.