Asteroid 18 Melpomene Observation Details
Melpomene Daily Motion
Melpomene will rise before twilight begins, at 20:20, and will reach 9° elevation by the time twilight commences at 21:08. It will reach its transit at 55° by 02:36 and gradually fade away as the night ends at 06:12, maintaining an elevation of around 30°.18 Melpomene will be visible until July, 14, 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.
Melpomene Visibility Timetable on March 15
Melpomene Rise and Set Timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
| Moon Rise, 99.5% illuminated | 20:14 | -1° |
| Melpomene rise | 20:20 | |
| Astrosession begin | 21:08 | 9° |
| Melpomene transit | 02:36 | 55° |
| Astrosession end | 06:12 | 30° |
| Civil sunrise | 07:16 | 18° |
| Sunrise | 07:44 | 13° |
| Moon Set | 08:13 | 7° |
| Melpomene set | 08:52 |
Track Melpomene Position Throughout the Night
← Sat, 15 March 2025 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Shift the map to change the time and observe Melpomene changing position in the night sky.
Melpomene Description
Melpomene, designated as 18 Melpomene, is a main-belt asteroid, located between Mars and Jupiter in the solar system. With a diameter of 140 km, 18 Melpomene completes its orbit around the Sun in 3.5 years. At the moment, 18 Melpomene is 1.794 AU (268,378,580 km) from Earth, and it is located in the constellation Virgo.Current position of Melpomene in Solar System
| Date | Sat, 15 March 2025 |
| Distance from Earth to Melpomene | 1.793 AU (268,228,982km) |
| Elongation | 165° |
| Angular diameter | " |
| Magnitude | 10.21 |
Finder Chart for Melpomene
Double-click to unlock the map.
| Object name | 18 Melpomene |
| Field of view | |
| Limiting magnitude | |
| 18 Melpomene coordinates | 12.622140619664, 5.0294238204269 |
| Center coordinates | 12.622140619664, 5.0294238204269 |
Annual motion of Melpomene
| Date | Sat, 15 March 2025 |
| Twighlight start | 21:04 |
| Twighlight end | 06:07 |
| Twighlight duration | 9h 4m |
| Rise | 20:15 |
| Set | 08:48 |
| Elevation at transit | 55° |
| Transit time | 02:32 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 12h 36m 29s", Dec: 05° 10' 53s |
| Magnitude | 10 |
| Constellation | Virgo |
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a Melpomene, 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 Melpomene 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 Melpomene 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.