What telescope do I need to see Nausikaa?

At magnitude 9.8, Nausikaa is within reach of a 3-inch (80 mm) telescope from a moderate-Bortle site.

Nausikaa — Asteroid in Aquarius

192 Nausikaa

Asteroid Aquarius Visible

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

Star Map 3D Solar System + List + Plan

Properties

Magnitude 9.8

Description

Type: Asteroid

Distance: 2.403 AU

Orbital Period: 1360.9 days

Diameter: 99 km

Princess from Homer's Odyssey, daughter of King Alcinous; S-type; one of the brightest minor planets at opposition (typical mag 9.8).

Position & Identifiers

RA 22h 21m 48.9s

Dec -14° 21' 32.7"

Constellation Aquarius

Catalog Nausikaa

Wikipedia

Physical Properties

Diameter 99 km

Mass 1.3e18 kg

Albedo 0.33 (33% reflected)

Rotation 13.6 hours

Angular Size 0.1″ (current)

Orbital Properties

Semi-major Axis 2.4034 AU (359.5 million km)

Eccentricity 0.2453

Inclination 6.80°

Orbital Period 3.73 years

Distance 2.232 AU (18.6 light-min)

Elongation 67.8° Moderate

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.