Asteroid 20 Massalia Observation Details
Massalia Daily Motion
Tonight, observing Massalia may prove challenging owing to its low elevation. It will reach its transit at by 08:44 and set before sunset at 15:30. Rising near twilight's end at 01:55, it will fade away by 03:23, peaking at just 17° above the horizon.20 Massalia will become visible in September, 30. After being too close to the Sun to observe, it will reappear in the night sky. Starting from September, 30, 20 Massalia can be seen again, providing a good opportunity for observation.
Massalia Visibility Timetable on September 17
Massalia Rise and Set Timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
| Moon Rise, 29.5% illuminated | 23:16 | -26° |
| Massalia transit | 08:44 | 68° |
| Moon Set | 14:45 | 9° |
| Massalia set | 15:30 | |
| Astrosession begin | 18:41 | -30° |
| Massalia rise | 01:55 | |
| Astrosession end | 03:23 | 17° |
| Civil sunrise | 04:25 | 30° |
| Sunrise | 04:53 | 35° |
Track Massalia Position Throughout the Night
← Wed, 17 September 2025 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Shift the map to change the time and observe Massalia changing position in the night sky.
Massalia Description
Massalia, designated as 20 Massalia, is a main-belt asteroid, located between Mars and Jupiter in the solar system. With a diameter of 136 km, 20 Massalia completes its orbit around the Sun in 3.7 years. At the moment, 20 Massalia is 2.791 AU (417,512,697 km) from Earth, and it is located in the constellation Cancer.Current position of Massalia in Solar System
| Date | Wed, 17 September 2025 |
| Distance from Earth to Massalia | 2.7902 AU (417,407,979km) |
| Elongation | 37° |
| Angular diameter | " |
| Magnitude | 11.1 |
Finder Chart for Massalia
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| Object name | 20 Massalia |
| Field of view | |
| Limiting magnitude | |
| 20 Massalia coordinates | 9.32979, 15.03869 |
| Center coordinates | 9.32979, 15.03869 |
Annual motion of Massalia
| Date | Thu, 18 September 2025 |
| Twighlight start | 18:39 |
| Twighlight end | 03:22 |
| Twighlight duration | 9h 43m |
| Rise | 01:56 |
| Set | 15:27 |
| Elevation at transit | 68° |
| Transit time | 08:42 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 09h 21m 51s", Dec: 14° 52' 37s |
| Magnitude | 11 |
| Constellation | Cancer |
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a Massalia, 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 Massalia 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 Massalia 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 20 Massalia
Coordinates & Visibility
| Right Ascension | 9.32979° |
| Declination | 15.03869° |
| Magnitude | 11.1 |
| Constellation | Cancer |
| Elevation | -2° |
| Azimuth | 69.3° |
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.