What telescope do I need to see Pomona?

At magnitude 10.8, Pomona is best observed with a 6-inch (150 mm) or larger telescope.

Pomona — Asteroid in Taurus

32 Pomona

Asteroid Taurus Visible

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

Star Map 3D Solar System + List + Plan

Properties

Magnitude 10.8

Description

Type: Asteroid

Distance: 2.588 AU

Orbital Period: 1520.6 days

Diameter: 81 km

Roman goddess of fruit trees and orchards; S-type; one of the brightest minor planets at opposition (typical mag 10.8).

Position & Identifiers

RA 06h 03m 33.4s

Dec +19° 08' 40.6"

Constellation Taurus

Catalog Pomona

Wikipedia

Physical Properties

Diameter 81 km

Mass 6.9e17 kg

Albedo 0.26 (26% reflected)

Rotation 9.4 hours

Angular Size 0.0″ (current)

Orbital Properties

Semi-major Axis 2.5878 AU (387.1 million km)

Eccentricity 0.0813

Inclination 5.52°

Orbital Period 4.16 years

Distance 3.077 AU (25.6 light-min)

Elongation 51.2° 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.