Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Vesta Brightens
Vesta map (click the map to enlarge to useful size). Asteroid Vesta is visible in the east from around 10:00 pm local time in the southern hemisphere.(See here for a horizon map)Vesta has brightened to magnitude 5.7. Not visible to the unaided eye at my suburban location, but easily visible in my 10x50 binoculars (the field of view of 10x50 binoculars is the circle on the map).
From now to the 23rd of May is the best time to look for Vesta. Vesta will be magnitude 5.5 on the 23rd, potentailly viewable to the unaided eye in suburban locations. After this the Moon will significantly interfere (although if you wait for Moonset, and are prepared to wait until the early hours of the morning, you can extend this to the 27th).
If you are trying for Vesta with the unaided eye, do allow several mintes for your eyes to adjust after you have exited from lighted rooms. If you have been ususing a computer, your eyes may take even longer to adjust. Balc and white maps suitabel for printing can be found here.
Labels: 4 Vesta, asteroids, Astronomy, unaided eye observation
# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 10:53 pm 
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