solar system
asteroid
324 Bamberga
Asteroid 324 Bamberga at opposition in September 2013.
Being one of the largest known asteroids, with a diameter of about 230 km, its magnitude however varies greatly due to a very high orbital eccentricity.
It is brightest on September 13 2013, at magnitude +8.1, after which it fades again beyond visibility in amateur telescopes. It takes 22 years before it reappears at this magnitude.
It makes a close approach of about 0.78 AU at perihelion, no other asteroid so large gets so close.
The asteroid was discovered in 1892 and is named after the German city of Bamberg.
The animated GIF which is available below shows the movement in the sky of this asteroid during the period of just 2 days (Sep. 3 and Sep 4, 2013).
Other / older versions :
Image information:
Object info
Name: 324 Bamberga
Type: asteroid
Constellation: n/a
Perihelion/Aphelion: 1.77 and 3.59 AU (1 AU = 149.6 million km)
Orbital period: 4.39 yr
Dimensions: 230 km
Discovered: 1892
Date & location
Date: September 3, 2013
Location: Landgraaf, The Netherlands
Equipment & optics
Total integration: 15 min
Camera: SBIG ST-8300M
Optics: TMB/LOMO 80/480
Mount: Losmandy G-11 Gemini
Image comments
Not one of the best images due to noise issues, but it clearly shows the movement of the asteroid during a 2 day interval.
