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Sky-Tonight.com / Asteroids / 20 Massalia
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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: Santa Clara, United States
Timezone:
Latitude:
37.3541
Longitude:
-121.955

Asteroid 20 Massalia Observation Details

Massalia

Massalia Daily Motion


20 Massalia will be visible until July, 9, 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.

Massalia Visibility on March 11

20 Massalia is visible from late evening until sunrise

Massalia Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Massalia rise18:09
Astrosession begin18:376°
Massalia transit00:0251°
Moon Rise, 53.9% illuminated 00:4749°
Astrosession end03:5723°
Civil sunrise04:5811°
Sunrise05:256°
Massalia set05:56
Moon Set09:51-44°

Track Massalia Position Throughout the Night

← Wed, 11 March 2026 →

Elevation (degrees)
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 1.292 AU (193,280,449 km) from Earth, and it is located in the constellation Virgo.

Current position of Massalia in Solar System

Earth Massalia
DateWed, 11 March 2026
Distance from Earth to Massalia1.292 AU (193,280,449km)
Elongation167°
Angular diameter"
Magnitude9.27
This interactive projection shows the current positions of Massalia, Earth, and the Sun in the Solar System. By sliding the image left or right, you can change the day of the year and see how Massalia and Earth move along their orbits around the Sun.

Finder Chart for Massalia

Double-click to unlock the map.
Object name20 Massalia
Field of view
Limiting magnitude
20 Massalia coordinates12.182679843758, -1.8307076435025
Center coordinates12.182679843758, -1.8307076435025

Annual motion of Massalia

Time
DateThu, 12 March 2026
Twighlight start18:37
Twighlight end03:55
Twighlight duration9h 18m
Rise18:04
Set05:51
Elevation at transit51°
Transit time23:57
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 12h 10m 04s", Dec: -1° 43' 50s
Magnitude9
ConstellationVirgo
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. 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 20 Massalia

Coordinates & Visibility

Right Ascension12.182679843758°
Declination-1.8307076435025°
Magnitude9.27
ConstellationVirgo
Elevation48.6°
Azimuth-157.8°

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.