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Sky-Tonight.com / Asteroids / 18 Melpomene
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Observation Settings

Or select it on the map:
This Earth map fragment is intended to illustrate celestial motion across the sky, emphasizing both bearing and elevational perspectives. The map's center point corresponds to the transit, showcasing celestial objects at their highest point, while elevation gradually decreases towards the map edges. This dynamic representation offers insights into the changing positions of celestial bodies with a focus on their bearing and elevational trajectories.
Your location: Columbus, United States
Timezone:
Latitude:
39.9625
Longitude:
-83.0061

Asteroid 18 Melpomene Observation Details

Melpomene

Melpomene Daily Motion

Melpomene will reach transit at 19:03. By the time twilight starts at 23:05 it will be at an elevation of 27° degrees and will set at 01:25, before twilight ends.
18 Melpomene will be visible until July, 15, 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 July 04

Melpomene Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Moon Rise, 59.3% illuminated14:4223°
Melpomene transit19:0357°
Sunset21:0247°
Civil sunset21:3642°
Astrosession begin23:0527°
Melpomene set01:25
Moon Set01:34-2°
Astrosession end04:07-28°
Melpomene rise12:39

Track Melpomene Position Throughout the Night

← Fri, 4 July 2025 →

Elevation (degrees)
Time02:17
Altitude35°
Azimuth114°
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 2.778 AU (415,627,764 km) from Earth, and it is located in the constellation Virgo.

Current position of Melpomene in Solar System

Earth Melpomene
DateFri, 4 July 2025
Distance from Earth to Melpomene2.787 AU (416,929,266km)
Elongation80°
Angular diameter"
Magnitude11.7
This section provides an interactive projection of the solar system, illustrating the relative positions of Melpomene, Earth, and the Sun throughout the year. By sliding the image left or right, you can change the day of the year, observing how the positions of Melpomene and Earth shift in their orbits around the Sun.

Finder Chart for Melpomene

Double-click to unlock the map.
Object name18 Melpomene
Field of view
Limiting magnitude
18 Melpomene coordinates12.33513, 6.66408
Center coordinates12.33513, 6.66408

Annual motion of Melpomene

Time
DateFri, 4 July 2025
Twighlight start23:01
Twighlight end04:02
Twighlight duration5h 1m
Rise12:43
Set01:25
Elevation at transit57°
Transit time19:04
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 12h 20m 56s", Dec: 06° 33' 13s
Magnitude12
ConstellationVirgo
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.

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.