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Royal Astronomical Society of New ZealandThe Brighter Asteroids in 2008: (11) Parthenope |
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Royal Astronomical Society of New ZealandThe Brighter Asteroids in 2008: (11) Parthenope |
Chart showing path of Parthenope in July and August 2008 Positions of Parthenope for 2008
Parthenope will be in Capricornus in July and August. It brightens to magnitude 9.5 on July 13, reaching 8.8 when at opposition on August 6. By the end of the month it will have faded again to 9.5.
The distance of Parthenope from the Sun varies between 2.21 and 2.70 AU, so that at the most favourable oppositions the asteroid is about 1.21 AU from the Earth. This is its distance at opposition in 2008 so Parthenope is likely to be as bright as it can get.
The diameter of Parthenope is about 162 km. Its orbital period is 3.84 years, the orbit being inclined at 4.6° to the ecliptic. Parthenope was discovered in 1850 on May 11 by A de Gasparis at Naples.
The chart is a southern hemisphere view with north at the bottom and east to the right. Stars to magnitude 9.0 are shown, which is about the limiting magnitude of 50 mm aperture binoculars. The circle on the chart represents a field of view 5° in diameter, a fairly typical field of view for binoculars.
| Date 2008 | R.A hr min |
Dec ° ' |
Mag | Const |
| Jul 7 | 21 29.5 | -14 44 | 9.7 | Cap |
| Jul 17 | 21 24.7 | -15 34 | 9.4 | Cap |
| Jul 27 | 21 17.7 | -16 37 | 9.1 | Cap |
| Aug 6 | 21 09.2 | -17 45 | 8.8 | Cap |
| Aug 16 | 21 00.6 | -18 50 | 9.1 | Cap |
| Aug 26 | 20 53.1 | -19 44 | 9.4 | Cap |
| Sep 5 | 20 47.9 | -20 24 | 9.7 | Cap |
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