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Asteroids around opposition
Charts show 1 month either side of opposition and are tabulated in order of opposition date. Positions are calculated from the latest osculating elements given in the Minor Planet Centre's database. Star data are from the Hipparcos/Tycho databases.
Our aim is to provide charts for all minor planets that reach magnitude 12.0 or brighter at opposition (as estimated from G and H parameters). A chart for any object at any one date & time can also be plotted from our "What's observable" applet.
The following table gives data at opposition. An asterisk after an object's name means that an ephemeris may be found in the printed Handbook.
| Link to chart | Opposition (UT) | Mag | Dec (°) | r (AU) | Δ (AU) | Phase (°) | Speed1 (°/hr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 760 Massinga | 2012 Mar 28 22h | 11.2 | -15.15 | 2.44 | 1.46 | 5.19 | 0.0092 |
 42 Isis | 2012 Apr 6 08h | 11.1 | +5.01 | 2.65 | 1.67 | 4.72 | 0.0105 |
 37 Fides | 2012 Apr 7 08h | 11.0 | -7.82 | 2.87 | 1.87 | 0.30 | 0.0097 |
 326 Tamara | 2012 Apr 7 09h | 11.6 | +3.81 | 2.12 | 1.13 | 5.50 | 0.0159 |
 116 Sirona | 2012 Apr 8 02h | 10.8 | -3.34 | 2.45 | 1.45 | 1.75 | 0.0093 |
 268 Adorea | 2012 Apr 27 02h | 11.8 | -10.27 | 2.71 | 1.70 | 1.43 | 0.0084 |
 423 Diotima | 2012 Apr 28 20h | 11.5 | -6.22 | 2.99 | 1.99 | 2.91 | 0.0088 |
 89 Julia | 2012 Apr 30 21h | 10.8 | -38.28 | 2.84 | 1.89 | 8.52 | 0.0095 |
 7 Iris | 2012 May 4 07h | 9.5 | -20.76 | 2.94 | 1.93 | 1.67 | 0.0103 |
 324 Bamberga | 2012 May 4 13h | 11.9 | -30.84 | 3.32 | 2.34 | 4.63 | 0.0093 |
 137 Meliboea | 2012 May 10 17h | 12.0 | -8.31 | 2.85 | 1.85 | 3.49 | 0.0093 |
 161 Athor | 2012 May 14 11h | 11.8 | -27.91 | 2.27 | 1.27 | 4.19 | 0.0109 |
| 132 Aethra | 2012 May 14 23h | 11.8 | -38.86 | 2.06 | 1.08 | 10.01 | 0.0172 |
 124 Alkeste | 2012 May 16 20h | 11.0 | -15.66 | 2.43 | 1.42 | 1.57 | 0.0094 |
 78 Diana | 2012 May 18 22h | 11.9 | -33.14 | 2.72 | 1.73 | 5.07 | 0.0097 |
 28 Bellona | 2012 May 19 10h | 11.2 | -5.75 | 2.86 | 1.87 | 5.07 | 0.0091 |
 3 Juno | 2012 May 19 19h | 10.2 | -3.03 | 3.35 | 2.37 | 5.16 | 0.0090 |
 202 Chryseis | 2012 May 21 | 11.9 | -7.77 | 3.11 | 2.11 | 4.11 | 0.0083 |
 346 Hermentaria | 2012 May 23 23h | 11.3 | -14.48 | 3.00 | 1.99 | 2.17 | 0.0092 |
 335 Roberta | 2012 May 26 11h | 11.2 | -11.75 | 2.13 | 1.12 | 4.57 | 0.0095 |
 596 Scheila | 2012 May 30 22h | 11.7 | -21.55 | 2.45 | 1.43 | 0.16 | 0.0104 |
 128 Nemesis | 2012 Jun 6 07h | 11.2 | -22.63 | 2.91 | 1.89 | 0.03 | 0.0093 |
 702 Alauda | 2012 Jun 12 10h | 11.8 | -37.95 | 3.13 | 2.14 | 4.75 | 0.0091 |
 52 Europa | 2012 Jun 12 22h | 11.1 | -15.46 | 3.37 | 2.36 | 2.33 | 0.0082 |
 138 Tolosa | 2012 Jun 12 23h | 10.9 | -25.99 | 2.17 | 1.16 | 1.30 | 0.0098 |
 23 Thalia | 2012 Jun 13 21h | 11.0 | -27.61 | 2.98 | 1.97 | 1.48 | 0.0098 |
 216 Kleopatra | 2012 Jun 22 23h | 11.6 | -7.04 | 3.04 | 2.05 | 5.42 | 0.0093 |
 44 Nysa | 2012 Jun 23 05h | 10.5 | -19.68 | 2.74 | 1.73 | 1.38 | 0.0101 |
 18 Melpomene | 2012 Jun 24 11h | 9.4 | -8.33 | 2.32 | 1.33 | 6.53 | 0.0110 |
 196 Philomela | 2012 Jun 27 22h | 10.7 | -27.73 | 3.05 | 2.04 | 1.49 | 0.0084 |
1 The speed column shows apparent speed across the sky at opposition. This should assist photographers to determine how frequently to take frames to obtain a trail (knowing pixels per degree in their telescope/camera configuration).
next to a chart provides a link to a red-on-black version, for display while observing.
132 Aethra
132 Aethra is a fast-moving asteroid, so its 2-month chart is split. It is too far south for UK observers.
