Asteroid 16 Psyche Observation Details
Psyche Daily Motion
Psyche will not be observable tonight. It will reach its transit at 62° by 11:43 and set at 18:23. Throughout the night, from 22:44 to 04:13, it will be below the horizon. Psyche will rise again after sunrise, at 05:00.16 Psyche will become visible in July, 21. After being too close to the Sun to observe, it will reappear in the night sky. Starting from July, 21, 16 Psyche can be seen again, providing a good opportunity for observation.
Psyche Visibility Timetable on May 25
Psyche Rise and Set Timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
| Moon Rise, 11.4% illuminated | 04:09 | -10° |
| Psyche transit | 11:43 | 62° |
| Moon Set | 18:12 | 2° |
| Psyche set | 18:23 | |
| Astrosession begin | 22:44 | -36° |
| Astrosession end | 04:13 | -8° |
| Psyche rise | 05:00 | |
| Civil sunrise | 05:37 | 7° |
| Sunrise | 06:10 | 13° |
Track Psyche Position Throughout the Night
← Sun, 25 May 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 3.397 AU (508,183,967 km) from Earth, and it is located in the constellation Aries.Current position of Psyche in Solar System
| Date | Sun, 25 May 2025 |
| Distance from Earth to Psyche | 3.394 AU (507,735,173km) |
| Elongation | 27° |
| Angular diameter | " |
| Magnitude | 11.49 |
Finder Chart for Psyche
Double-click to unlock the map.
| Object name | 16 Psyche |
| Field of view | |
| Limiting magnitude | |
| 16 Psyche coordinates | 2.3366245461645, 11.943559944377 |
| Center coordinates | 2.3366245461645, 11.943559944377 |
Annual motion of Psyche
| Date | Sun, 25 May 2025 |
| Twighlight start | 22:39 |
| Twighlight end | 04:08 |
| Twighlight duration | 5h 29m |
| Rise | 04:59 |
| Set | 18:20 |
| Elevation at transit | 62° |
| Transit time | 11:40 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 02h 21m 56s", Dec: 12° 04' 50s |
| Magnitude | 12 |
| Constellation | Aries |
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.
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.