Asteroid 6 Hebe reaches opposition this morning at 10 A.M. EDT. Shining at magnitude 7.5, Hebe is located in Aquarius and rises shortly after sunset, remaining visible all night. You should be able to spot in binoculars or any small telescope. The best time to observe it is late in the evening and overnight into the early-morning hours, as that’s when the asteroid is highest in the sky. Around local midnight, Hebe is 30° high in the south, about 13.5° to the upper right of the 1st-magnitude star Fomalhaut in Piscis Austrinus. Much closer is 3rd-magnitude Skat in Aquarius; Hebe stands just under 6° west-southwest of this star tonight.
Sunrise: 6:22 A.M.
Sunset: 7:41 P.M.
Moonrise: 9:47 A.M.
Moonset: 9:08 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (12%)
*Times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 12 P.M. local time from the same location.
For a look ahead at more upcoming sky events, check out our full Sky This Week column.
