- L25 minutes (21 frames)
Asteroid Vesta is one of the largest objects in the asteroid belt located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered on March 29, 1807, by the German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers and was named after the Roman goddess of the hearth and family.
Vesta has a diameter of about 525 kilometers, which makes it the second-largest asteroid in the belt after Ceres. Its mass is about 9% of the total mass of all objects in the asteroid belt. The asteroid has a nearly spherical shape, which indicates its differentiated structure: Vesta has a crust, a mantle, and a metallic core, which makes it similar to the terrestrial planets.
The surface of the asteroid is rich in geological structures: numerous craters, mountains, valleys, and areas with different albedo (reflectivity). One of the most notable features is the giant crater Rhea Sylvia at the south pole, left by a massive impact. Studies also suggest the presence of water ice beneath Vesta's surface, although its surface is largely dry.
In 2011, NASA launched the Dawn mission to study Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Dawn reached Vesta in July 2011 and spent about a year collecting data on its topography, composition, and interior structure. Studies have shown that Vesta is the source of some meteorites found on Earth (the HED group of meteorites), making it an important target for studying the formation and evolution of the planets in the Solar System.
Vesta's unique nature as a protoplanet and its relatively well-studied surface continue to attract the attention of scientists and amateur astronomers, making it one of the most intriguing research targets in the asteroid belt.
Visibility chart of Asteroid Vesta during the day
| Date | Moon Phase | Exposure | CCD Temperature | Gain | Offset | Filter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- 2023ixf•
- 40 Eri•
- Abell 74•
- Artemis A868 SA•
- a Canis Minoris•
- C 2020 R4 ATLAS•
- C 2020 T2 Palomar•
- C 2021 S3 (PANSTARRS)•
- Haumea (2003 EL61)•
- HCG 68•
- HCG 92•
- IC 1318B•
- IC 1396•
- IC 1795•
- IC 1805•
- IC 1848•
- IC 1871•
- IC 3322A•
- IC 342•
- IC 4015•
- IC 405•
- IC 417•
- IC 434•
- IC 443•
- IC 4703•
- IC 5070•
- IC 5146•
- IC 63•
- M 1•
- M 101•
- M 103•
- M 109•
- M 13•
- M 15•
- M 27•
- M 3•
- M 33•
- M 42•
- M 45•
- M 5•
- M 51•
- M 57•
- M 63•
- M 64•
- M 74•
- M 76•
- M 81•
- M 82•
- M 86•
- M 87•
- M 94•
- M 97•
- NGC 147•
- NGC 1491•
- NGC 1499•
- NGC 1579•
- NGC 1961•
- NGC 2146•
- NGC 2239•
- NGC 2403•
- NGC 281•
- NGC 4236•
- NGC 4565•
- NGC 4631•
- NGC 507•
- NGC 508•
- NGC 5866•
- NGC 5907•
- NGC 6503•
- NGC 6823•
- NGC 6888•
- NGC 6946•
- NGC 6992•
- NGC 6995•
- NGC 7000•
- NGC 7023•
- NGC 7129•
- NGC 7217•
- NGC 7331•
- NGC 7380•
- NGC 7538•
- NGC 7635•
- NGC 7640•
- NGC 7822•
- NGC 891•
- NGC 896•
- NGC 925•
- PGC 54559•
- Sh2-155•
- Sh2-168•
- Sh2 103•
- Sh2 109•
- Sh2 132•
- T CrB•
- UGC 6930•
- V1405 Cas•
- Vesta A807 FA•