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 on March 21
16 Psyche is visible from sunset through most of the night
Psyche Rise and Set Timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
Moon Rise, 1.2% illuminated  | 05:50 | -29° |
| Psyche transit | 16:24 | 73° |
| Sunset | 17:18 | 69° |
| Civil sunset | 17:45 | 66° |
| Astrosession begin | 18:47 | 55° |
| Moon Set | 19:40 | 44° |
| Psyche set | 23:29 | |
| Astrosession end | 03:42 | -31° |
| Psyche rise | 09:16 |
Track Psyche Position Throughout the Night
← Sat, 21 March 2026 →
| 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 2.818 AU (421,566,800 km) from Earth, and it is located in the constellation Taurus.Current position of Psyche in Solar System
| Date | Sat, 21 March 2026 |
| Distance from Earth to Psyche | 2.825 AU (422,613,985km) |
| Elongation | 78° |
| Angular diameter | " |
| Magnitude | 11.64 |
Finder Chart for Psyche
Double-click to unlock the map.
| Object name | 16 Psyche |
| Field of view | |
| Limiting magnitude | |
| 16 Psyche coordinates | 5.1731403151765, 20.539549869061 |
| Center coordinates | 5.1731403151765, 20.539549869061 |
Annual motion of Psyche
| Date | Sat, 21 March 2026 |
| Twighlight start | 18:42 |
| Twighlight end | 03:37 |
| Twighlight duration | 9h 54m |
| Rise | 09:15 |
| Set | 23:26 |
| Elevation at transit | 73° |
| Transit time | 16:21 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 05h 11m 32s", Dec: 20° 34' 51s |
| Magnitude | 12 |
| 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. You can also view detailed visibility information in a dedicated table, including exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.
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. You can also view detailed visibility information in a dedicated table, including exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.
Astrometric & Physical Parameters of 16 Psyche
Coordinates & Visibility
| Right Ascension | 5.1731403151765° |
| Declination | 20.539549869061° |
| Magnitude | 11.63 |
| Constellation | Taurus |
| Elevation | -21.5° |
| Azimuth | -39.1° |
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.