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[Centaur]

The largest stony asteroid, 15 Eunomia, with a mean diameter of 328 km is currently undergoing one of its nearest and brightest apparitions. It’s finely positioned for northern hemisphere observers as it passes through Perseus and Taurus. Its closest approach to Earth during this apparition of 1.2386 AU will occur on 2011 NOV 24. Eunomia will be in longitudinal opposition to the Sun on NOV 28, and achieve greatest brilliance on that same date at magnitude +7.9.

I’ve created an equatorial chart for the truly huge asteroid (unlike the hugeness that space.com claimed for 0.4 km wide 2005 YU55) that can be seen at www.CurtRenz.com/asteroids . Photos and descriptions of Eunomia would be welcome additions to this thread.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Eunomia...

I think I dated her in the 80's...!

[Paulie pchris00]

Nov 10, 2011 14:50:42 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

Eunomia...

I think I dated her in the 80's...!

I didn't date her, but I did see her in the early morning hours of August 22, 2011 at Conway Observatory. This was the only time I've seen it, and one of the few asteroids I've seen this year. (Before this year, my only observed asteroid was Vesta). Earlier in the night I also saw Vesta, and possibly Ceres.

Eunomia was a fairly simple starhop. I started at magnitude 2.85 Zeta Persii to magnitude 3.83 Omicron Persii. I thought I was using Cartes du Ciel to find Eunomia among the background stars, but checking again now, it's not showing me it's exact position, nor it's magnitude for that date. I had a high degree of confidence that I had found the asteroid, much more confident than it's biggest brother Ceres. I would have taken better notes on it if I had known I'd be quizzed about it later.

(Although I did note in my logbook that a mouse causing a ruckus in the walls, and at one point a pack of coyotes sounded like they had the building surrounded).

[Centaur]

Nov 10, 2011 14:50:42 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

Eunomia...

I think I dated her in the 80's...!

Yeah, Joe, you and everyone else. She really got around. That is until the sight of someone turned her to stone. So Zeus took pity and set her in the sky. Unfortunately for Eunomia this year, being forced to pass near Perseus as he holds the head of Medusa may bring back difficult memories.

[wwpierre]

You crack me up, Curt. I bet your copy of Bullfinch is pretty dog-eared.

[Centaur]

Nov 11, 2011 14:25:18 GMT -6 wwpierre said:

You crack me up, Curt. I bet your copy of Bullfinch is pretty dog-eared.

Indeed, wwpierre, I frequently consult old Tom. Although in 1959 I was first introduced to mythological characters related to the constellations in Star Maps for Beginners: gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000000036597168&pubid=21000000000353112