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Sky-Tonight.com / Asteroids / 4 Vesta
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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 4 Vesta Observation Details

Vesta

Vesta Daily Motion


4 Vesta will become visible in June, 25. After being too close to the Sun to observe, it will reappear in the night sky. Starting from June, 25, 4 Vesta can be seen again, providing a good opportunity for observation.

Vesta Visibility on March 11

4 Vesta rises at sunrise

Vesta Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Vesta transit10:0538°
Vesta set15:19
Astrosession begin18:37-39°
Moon Rise, 53.9% illuminated 00:47-47°
Astrosession end03:57-10°
Vesta rise04:49
Civil sunrise04:582°
Sunrise05:257°
Moon Set09:5138°

Track Vesta Position Throughout the Night

← Wed, 11 March 2026 →

Elevation (degrees)
Time
Altitude
Azimuth
Shift the map to change the time and observe Vesta changing position in the night sky.

Vesta Description

Vesta, designated as 4 Vesta, is a main-belt asteroid, located between Mars and Jupiter in the solar system. With a diameter of 526 km, 4 Vesta completes its orbit around the Sun in 3.6 years. At the moment, 4 Vesta is 3.161 AU (472,878,869 km) from Earth, and it is located in the constellation Aquarius.

Current position of Vesta in Solar System

Earth Vesta
DateWed, 11 March 2026
Distance from Earth to Vesta3.161 AU (472,878,869km)
Elongation21°
Angular diameter"
Magnitude8
This interactive projection shows the current positions of Vesta, 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 Vesta and Earth move along their orbits around the Sun.

Finder Chart for Vesta

Double-click to unlock the map.
Object name4 Vesta
Field of view
Limiting magnitude
4 Vesta coordinates22.205774269757, -14.418016904285
Center coordinates22.205774269757, -14.418016904285

Annual motion of Vesta

Time
DateThu, 12 March 2026
Twighlight start18:37
Twighlight end03:55
Twighlight duration9h 18m
Rise04:46
Set15:14
Elevation at transit38°
Transit time10:00
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 22h 14m 18s", Dec: -14° 15' 48s
Magnitude8
ConstellationAquarius
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a Vesta, 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 Vesta 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 4 Vesta

Coordinates & Visibility

Right Ascension22.205774269757°
Declination-14.418016904285°
Magnitude8
ConstellationAquarius
Elevation-62.9°
Azimuth-36.3°

Physical properties

Mean radius in kilometres265
Boby mass in kg2.7E+20
Body density in g.cm31

Orbital Parameters

Sideral orbital time for body around another one (the Sun or a planet) in earth day1325.886

Data Acknowledgment

Our solar system data—including planetary physical and orbital parameters—comes from the Solar System OpenData API , maintained by Le Système Solaire. We thank Christophe and the contributors for making this open data available.

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.