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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.
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Asteroid 52 Europa Observation Details

Europa

Europa Daily Motion

Europa will reach its transit before twilight, at 16:42. By the onset of twilight at 16:58, it will be at elevation, and it will set before sunrise, at 23:13.
52 Europa will be visible until April, 14, 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.

Europa Visibility Timetable on January 30

Europa Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Moon Rise, 88% illuminated11:5220°
Sunset15:2758°
Civil sunset15:5661°
Europa transit16:4263°
Astrosession begin16:5863°
Europa set23:13
Astrosession end03:42-40°
Moon Set03:44-41°
Europa rise10:08

Track Europa Position Throughout the Night

← Fri, 30 January 2026 →

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

Europa Description

Europa, designated as 52 Europa, is a main-belt asteroid, located between Mars and Jupiter in the solar system. With a diameter of 304 km, 52 Europa completes its orbit around the Sun in 5.4 years. At the moment, 52 Europa is 2.499 AU (373,845,079 km) from Earth, and it is located in the constellation Cetus.

Current position of Europa in Solar System

Earth Europa
DateFri, 30 January 2026
Distance from Earth to Europa2.503 AU (374,443,470km)
Elongation99°
Angular diameter"
Magnitude11.86
This section provides an interactive projection of the solar system, illustrating the relative positions of Europa, 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 Europa and Earth shift in their orbits around the Sun.

Finder Chart for Europa

Double-click to unlock the map.
Object name52 Europa
Field of view
Limiting magnitude
52 Europa coordinates3.1978694103881, 10.247040781315
Center coordinates3.1978694103881, 10.247040781315

Annual motion of Europa

Time
DateFri, 30 January 2026
Twighlight start16:54
Twighlight end03:37
Twighlight duration11h 43m
Rise10:07
Set23:09
Elevation at transit63°
Transit time16:38
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 03h 12m 26s", Dec: 10° 20' 36s
Magnitude12
ConstellationCetus
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a Europa, 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 Europa 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 52 Europa

Coordinates & Visibility

Right Ascension3.1978694103881°
Declination10.247040781315°
Magnitude11.86
ConstellationCetus
Elevation-17.5°
Azimuth-61.6°

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.