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 em Sagittarius

18 Melpomene

Asteroid Sagittarius Visível

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

Mapa Estelar Sistema Solar 3D + Lista + Plano

Propriedades

Magnitude 8.7

Descrição

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).

Posição e Identificadores

RA 19h 23m 02.6s

Dec -10° 19' 35.8"

Constelação Sagittarius

Catálogo Melpomene

Wikipedia

Propriedades Físicas

Diâmetro 140 km

Massa 3.6e18 kg

Albedo 0.18 (18% reflected)

Rotação 11.6 hours

Tamanho angular 0.1″ (current)

Propriedades orbitais

Semieixo maior 2.2956 AU (343.4 million km)

Excentricidade 0.2180

Inclinação 10.13°

Período orbital 3.48 years

Distância 1.858 AU (15.5 light-min)

Elongação 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.