Asteroid 16 Psyche Observation Details
Psyche Daily Motion
16 Psyche will be visible until May, 5, when it will move too close to the Sun. During this time, its proximity to the Sun will cause it to disappear from the night sky, making it unobservable for a while.
Psyche Visibility Timetable on October 21
Psyche Rise and Set Timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
| Moon Rise, 0.9% illuminated | 04:37 | 59° |
| Moon Set | 15:52 | -31° |
| Astrosession begin | 17:50 | -18° |
| Psyche rise | 19:37 | |
| Psyche transit | 02:37 | 72° |
| Astrosession end | 03:54 | 65° |
| Civil sunrise | 04:55 | 55° |
| Sunrise | 05:23 | 49° |
| Psyche set | 09:37 |
Track Psyche Position Throughout the Night
← Tue, 21 October 2025 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Shift the map to change the time and observe Psyche changing position in the night sky.
Psyche Description
Psyche, designated as 16 Psyche, is a main-belt asteroid, located between Mars and Jupiter in the solar system. With a diameter of 222 km, 16 Psyche completes its orbit around the Sun in 5 years. At the moment, 16 Psyche is 1.92 AU (287,257,831 km) from Earth, and it is located in the constellation Taurus.Current position of Psyche in Solar System
| Date | Tue, 21 October 2025 |
| Distance from Earth to Psyche | 1.9194 AU (287,138,153km) |
| Elongation | 125° |
| Angular diameter | " |
| Magnitude | 10.6 |
Finder Chart for Psyche
Double-click to unlock the map.
| Object name | 16 Psyche |
| Field of view | |
| Limiting magnitude | |
| 16 Psyche coordinates | 5.5, 19.04281 |
| Center coordinates | 5.5, 19.04281 |
Annual motion of Psyche
| Date | Wed, 22 October 2025 |
| Twighlight start | 17:49 |
| Twighlight end | 03:53 |
| Twighlight duration | 10h 4m |
| Rise | 19:33 |
| Set | 09:33 |
| Elevation at transit | 72° |
| Transit time | 02:33 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 05h 30m 00s", Dec: 19° 01' 18s |
| Magnitude | 11 |
| Constellation | Taurus |
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a Psyche, providing a comprehensive overview of its daily appearances and transit times throughout the year.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the Psyche is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the Psyche is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit.
Astrometric & Physical Parameters of 16 Psyche
Coordinates & Visibility
| Right Ascension | 5.5° |
| Declination | 19.04281° |
| Magnitude | 10.6 |
| Constellation | Taurus |
| Elevation | -30.9° |
| Azimuth | -20.8° |
Acknowledgments
We acknowledge NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for providing essential data on asteroids and comets through their Small-Body Database (SBDB) and Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). Their continuous efforts in tracking and cataloging these celestial bodies make it possible to offer accurate and up-to-date information on their positions, orbits, and physical characteristics.