Asteroids Vesta and Ceres Visible in our Night Sky
August 6th 2011 08:28
Category: Cosmic Objects
Image of Vesta obtained from NASA take by the space craft Dawn on July 24 2011
Asteroids in our night sky, the two brightest asteroids we currently have in our solar system are called Ceres and Vesta.
These are asteroids are perhaps the biggest all largest asteroids we have.
Although we can never be certain that Ceres an Vesta are the largest asteroids we have they may be many more larger ones orbiting at the
edge of our solar system.
While it’s true that asteroids are difficult to see visually without a telescope the relative short orbiting period can sometimes bring the asteroids closer to earth that they can be seen with a pair of binoculars. The orbiting period of Vesta is 3.6 years, while Ceres takes a little longer to orbit the earth taking 4.6 years to complete a visit round the earth.
In the coming months Vesta and Ceres will be close enough to be seen with a pair of moderate powered binoculars. All you need is a clear night with no Moon and a little bit of patience. Vesta rises at 3.00 AM, for those people would rather observe in the evening hours before midnight.
Vesta and Ceres will brighten around the 12th of August through to the middle of September . Vesta and Ceres can be seen 2 hours after sunset around the middle of August and September.
So how do about finding these are asteroids?
Click on the link below you will be able to download the asteroids position chart.
Click Here to Open New window Design your Lighting Download asteroids Star Chart
You’ll probably need to get a good star chart of the constellations these are readily obtainable on the Internet.Currently Vesta is located in the constellation of Aquarius. If you practice going out for a few nights make a visual search in the area of the constellation Aquarius you should be able to spot a moving asteroid over a period of a few nights viewing.
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