Asteroid 20 Massalia Observation Details
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 Timetable on February 19
Massalia Rise and Set Timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
Moon Rise, 0.3% illuminated  | 05:31 | 11° |
| Astrosession begin | 17:18 | -18° |
| Moon Set | 17:27 | -16° |
| Massalia rise | 18:46 | |
| Massalia transit | 00:34 | 49° |
| Astrosession end | 03:24 | 33° |
| Civil sunrise | 04:25 | 23° |
| Sunrise | 04:53 | 18° |
| Massalia set | 06:23 |
Track Massalia Position Throughout the Night
← Thu, 19 February 2026 →
| 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 1.37 AU (204,949,083 km) from Earth, and it is located in the constellation Virgo.Current position of Massalia in Solar System
| Date | Thu, 19 February 2026 |
| Distance from Earth to Massalia | 1.37 AU (204,949,083km) |
| Elongation | 143° |
| Angular diameter | " |
| Magnitude | 9.72 |
Finder Chart for Massalia
Double-click to unlock the map.
| Object name | 20 Massalia |
| Field of view | |
| Limiting magnitude | |
| 20 Massalia coordinates | 12.412718426409, -3.387021409293 |
| Center coordinates | 12.412718426409, -3.387021409293 |
Annual motion of Massalia
| Date | Fri, 20 February 2026 |
| Twighlight start | 17:18 |
| Twighlight end | 03:21 |
| Twighlight duration | 10h 4m |
| Rise | 18:41 |
| Set | 06:19 |
| Elevation at transit | 49° |
| Transit time | 00:30 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 12h 24m 19s", Dec: -3° 20' 15s |
| Magnitude | 10 |
| Constellation | Virgo |
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.
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 Ascension | 12.412718426409° |
| Declination | -3.387021409293° |
| Magnitude | 9.72 |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Elevation | -43° |
| Azimuth | -52.4° |
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.