PALLAS DATADiscoverer : Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers Date : 28 March 1802 Satellites : 0 Diameter : 570x525x500 km. Polar Tilt : ? ° Period (P) : 4.62 yr. Synodic Period : 443.18 d. Orbital Velocity : 17.65 km.s-1 Perihelion (q) : 2.133 A.U. Aphelion (Q) : 3.412 A.U. Eccentricity (e) : 0.231 Inclination (i) : 34.84° Mass : 2.2 ×1020 kg. Mean Density : 2.8 g.cm-3 Mean Distance : 2.773 AU or 5.104×108 km Sidereal Rotation : 07 hr. 18.8 m. Mean Sidereal Rotation : 0.32555 d. Maximum Diameter : 0.60″ (arcsec) Minimum Diameter : 0.17″ (arcsec) Maximum Magnitude : 6.7 Minimum Magnitude : 10.6 Class : B-type |
Herr Heinrich Olbers from Bremen discovered on 28th March 1802 the second of the minor planets, Pallas, whose name is taken from the Roman name for the direct equivalent Greek goddess, Athene. She was also identified as the goddess who portrays the admirable virtues of both prudence and wisdom, being often associated with the applied sciences. Some identify her with the Roman goddess Minerva, who in later times was portrayed as the goddess of war - eventually to be venerated even higher than the male god of war, Mars.
Pallas (2) is about half the size of Ceres or 498.1 km across, and just exceeding that of Vesta (4). Since discovery, Pallas has orbited the Sun some sixty-eight (68) times (2006), whose orbit is now well established. Like Ceres, Pallas has the similar mean solar distance of 2.773 AU, but also has significant orbit eccentricity ‘e’ at 0.2300. This is combined with high ecliptic inclination of 34.8°, gives the possible range the declinations anywhere between of +58.1° and -58.1°. This the only planetary body that can be so far from the ecliptic and still be seen in binoculars. A combination of these values means that Pallas can have favourable and unfavourable oppositions for both northern and southern observers, and quite often, very far from the ecliptic.
At best, the magnitudes can reach about 6.7 or drop below 10.6, but the average is more like 8.3. The best opposition for Pallas in the next few decades will be in late February 2014 when it reaches 7.0 magnitude in the constellation of Hydra - being well placed for southern observers. Closest approach then will be 1.23 A.U. or about 184 million kilometers. Poor oppositions occur once every 4.5 years or so, being in the years 2006, 2011, 2015 and 2020. Best placement for southern observers will occur in mid-December 2008, when 8th magnitude Pallas is at -33° declination.
********************************************************* 0h UT (J2000) Mag Δ r El. Con DATE R.A. Decl. V A.U. A.U. o hh mm.m o ′ ********************************************************* -- 2007 -- 29 Dec 22 45.0 -09 34 10.1 3.383 3.052 062 Aqr -- 2008 -- 12 Jan 23 00.8 -09 09 10.1 3.533 3.024 052 Aqr 26 Jan 23 18.0 -08 29 10.1 3.657 2.996 042 Aqr 09 Feb 23 36.4 -07 37 10.1 3.753 2.966 032 Aqr 23 Feb 23 55.7 -06 36 10.0 3.818 2.936 023 Aqr 08 Mar 00 15.8 -05 31 09.8 3.852 2.905 015 Psc 22 Mar 00 36.5 -04 24 09.7 3.853 2.874 009 Cet 05 Apr 00 57.7 -03 18 09.7 3.824 2.842 009 Cet 19 Apr 01 19.4 -02 18 09.7 3.765 2.809 015 Cet 03 May 01 41.4 -01 25 09.8 3.678 2.776 023 Cet 17 May 02 03.9 +00 45 09.8 3.567 2.742 030 Cet 31 May 02 26.5 +00 19 09.8 3.434 2.709 038 Cet 14 Jun 02 49.3 +00 12 09.8 3.283 2.674 046 Cet 28 Jun 03 12.2 +00 28 09.7 3.117 2.640 053 Cet 12 Jul 03 34.8 -01 09 09.6 2.942 2.606 061 Tau 26 Jul 03 56.9 -02 21 09.5 2.759 2.572 069 Eri 09 Aug 04 18.1 -04 05 09.4 2.575 2.538 076 Eri 23 Aug 04 38.1 -06 26 09.2 2.394 2.504 084 Eri 06 Sep 04 56.1 -09 23 09.0 2.220 2.470 092 Eri 20 Sep 05 11.4 -12 55 08.8 2.058 2.438 100 Lep 04 Oct 05 23.2 -16 56 08.6 1.913 2.406 107 Lep 18 Oct 05 30.4 -21 15 08.4 1.789 2.375 114 Lep 01 Nov 05 32.2 -25 29 08.2 1.690 2.345 120 Lep 15 Nov 05 28.2 -29 11 08.1 1.619 2.316 123 Col 29 Nov 05 19.0 -31 48 08.0 1.576 2.289 125 Col 13 Dec 05 06.9 -32 53 08.0 1.562 2.263 124 Col 27 Dec 04 55.3 -32 14 08.0 1.574 2.239 120 Cae *********************************************************
********************************************************* 0h UT (J2000) Mag Δ r El. Con DATE R.A. Decl. V A.U. A.U. o hh mm.m o ′ ********************************************************* 10 Jan 04 47.5 -30 02 08.1 1.608 2.217 116 Cae 24 Jan 04 45.5 -26 40 08.2 1.663 2.198 110 Eri 07 Feb 04 49.7 -22 34 08.3 1.734 2.180 103 Eri 21 Feb 04 59.8 -18 09 08.4 1.819 2.166 096 Lep 07 Mar 05 14.8 -13 43 08.5 1.915 2.153 090 Lep 21 Mar 05 33.8 -09 32 08.6 2.022 2.144 083 Ori 04 Apr 05 56.1 -05 44 08.7 2.136 2.137 077 Ori 18 Apr 06 21.0 -02 27 08.8 2.256 2.133 070 Ori 02 May 06 47.7 +00 18 08.9 2.381 2.133 064 Mon 16 May 07 15.7 +02 27 08.9 2.506 2.135 057 CMi 30 May 07 44.6 +04 02 09.0 2.631 2.140 051 CMi 13 Jun 08 14.0 +05 04 09.0 2.752 2.148 044 Hya 27 Jun 08 43.5 +05 36 09.0 2.867 2.158 038 Hya 11 Jul 09 12.8 +05 42 09.0 2.973 2.172 031 Hya 25 Jul 09 41.9 +05 26 09.0 3.067 2.188 025 Hya 08 Aug 10 10.6 +04 52 08.9 3.146 2.206 018 Sex 22 Aug 10 38.8 +04 04 08.9 3.209 2.227 011 Sex 05 Sep 11 06.6 +03 07 08.7 3.253 2.249 005 Leo 19 Sep 11 33.9 +02 05 08.7 3.277 2.274 003 Leo 03 Oct 12 00.8 +01 02 08.9 3.278 2.300 010 Vir 17 Oct 12 27.2 +00 03 09.1 3.258 2.328 018 Vir 31 Oct 12 53.2 +00 48 09.2 3.214 2.358 026 Vir 14 Nov 13 18.6 -01 27 09.3 3.149 2.388 034 Vir 28 Nov 13 43.4 -01 48 09.4 3.062 2.420 042 Vir 12 Dec 14 07.3 -01 48 09.4 2.956 2.452 051 Vir 26 Dec 14 30.1 -01 22 09.4 2.834 2.485 060 Vir *********************************************************
********************************************************* 0h UT (J2000) Mag Δ r El. Con DATE R.A. Decl. V A.U. A.U. o hh mm.m o ′ ********************************************************* 09 Jan 14 51.4 +00 25 09.4 2.699 2.518 069 Vir 23 Jan 15 10.6 +01 07 09.3 2.557 2.552 079 Vir 06 Feb 15 27.2 +03 16 09.2 2.414 2.587 089 Ser 20 Feb 15 40.6 +06 03 09.1 2.276 2.621 099 Ser 06 Mar 15 49.8 +09 26 09.0 2.152 2.655 110 Ser 20 Mar 15 54.4 +13 14 08.9 2.050 2.689 120 Ser 03 Apr 15 53.7 +17 12 08.7 1.980 2.723 129 Ser 17 Apr 15 47.9 +20 53 08.7 1.949 2.757 136 Ser 01 May 15 38.2 +23 51 08.7 1.959 2.791 138 Ser 15 May 15 26.6 +25 44 08.8 2.013 2.824 135 CrB 29 May 15 15.5 +26 24 08.9 2.104 2.856 129 Boo 12 Jun 15 07.2 +25 58 09.1 2.228 2.888 121 Boo 26 Jun 15 02.8 +24 40 09.4 2.376 2.919 112 Boo 10 Jul 15 02.6 +22 48 09.5 2.541 2.950 104 Boo 24 Jul 15 06.5 +20 35 09.7 2.717 2.979 095 Boo 07 Aug 15 13.9 +18 12 09.9 2.897 3.008 086 Ser 21 Aug 15 24.2 +15 47 10.0 3.077 3.037 078 Ser 04 Sep 15 37.0 +13 27 10.1 3.253 3.064 070 Ser 18 Sep 15 51.9 +11 16 10.2 3.419 3.090 063 Ser 02 Oct 16 08.4 +09 16 10.3 3.574 3.116 055 Ser 16 Oct 16 26.2 +07 31 10.3 3.713 3.141 048 Her 30 Oct 16 45.1 +06 02 10.3 3.834 3.164 042 Her 13 Nov 17 04.8 +04 52 10.3 3.936 3.187 036 Oph 27 Nov 17 25.0 +04 01 10.3 4.014 3.208 031 Oph 11 Dec 17 45.4 +03 30 10.3 4.068 3.229 028 Oph 25 Dec 18 05.9 +03 20 10.3 4.096 3.249 027 Oph *********************************************************
********************************************************* 0h UT (J2000) Mag Δ r El. Con DATE R.A. Decl. V A.U. A.U. o hh mm.m o ′ ********************************************************* 08 Jan 18 26.2 +03 30 10.4 4.098 3.267 028 Oph 22 Jan 18 45.9 +04 00 10.4 4.073 3.285 032 Ser 05 Feb 19 04.9 +04 48 10.5 4.022 3.301 038 Aql 19 Feb 19 22.8 +05 54 10.5 3.945 3.316 045 Aql 05 Mar 19 39.3 +07 14 10.5 3.846 3.330 052 Aql 19 Mar 19 54.3 +08 47 10.5 3.725 3.343 060 Aql 02 Apr 20 07.2 +10 30 10.5 3.587 3.355 069 Aql 16 Apr 20 17.9 +12 19 10.4 3.436 3.366 078 Del 30 Apr 20 25.8 +14 09 10.3 3.276 3.376 087 Del 14 May 20 30.5 +15 55 10.2 3.115 3.384 097 Del 28 May 20 31.8 +17 29 10.1 2.958 3.392 107 Del 11 Jun 20 29.2 +18 41 09.9 2.815 3.398 117 Del 25 Jun 20 23.0 +19 21 09.8 2.694 3.403 127 Del 09 Jul 20 13.8 +19 17 09.6 2.605 3.407 136 Sge 23 Jul 20 02.8 +18 22 09.5 2.556 3.410 141 Sge 06 Aug 19 51.9 +16 39 09.5 2.553 3.411 142 Sge 20 Aug 19 42.9 +14 16 09.6 2.596 3.412 138 Aql 03 Sep 19 37.0 +11 31 09.8 2.685 3.411 129 Aql 17 Sep 19 35.0 +08 40 09.9 2.812 3.409 119 Aql 01 Oct 19 37.0 +05 57 10.1 2.968 3.407 108 Aql 15 Oct 19 42.7 +03 33 10.2 3.143 3.402 096 Aql 29 Oct 19 51.5 +01 33 10.3 3.329 3.397 085 Aql 12 Nov 20 03.1 +00 02 10.4 3.514 3.391 075 Aql 26 Nov 20 16.7 -01 12 10.5 3.693 3.383 064 Aql 10 Dec 20 32.0 -01 57 10.5 3.856 3.375 054 Aql 24 Dec 20 48.6 -02 20 10.5 3.999 3.365 044 Aqr *********************************************************
********************************************************* 0h UT (J2000) Mag Δ r El. Con DATE R.A. Decl. V A.U. A.U. o hh mm.m o ′ ********************************************************* 07 Jan 21 06.0 -02 23 10.5 4.116 3.354 035 Aqr 21 Jan 21 24.0 -02 08 10.4 4.203 3.342 025 Aqr 04 Feb 21 42.3 -01 39 10.3 4.258 3.328 017 Aqr 18 Feb 22 00.7 +00 57 10.2 4.279 3.314 011 Aqr 03 Mar 22 19.1 +00 06 10.2 4.264 3.299 011 Aqr 17 Mar 22 37.3 +00 51 10.3 4.215 3.282 018 Aqr 31 Mar 22 55.0 +01 51 10.4 4.132 3.265 026 Psc 14 Apr 23 12.3 +02 51 10.4 4.017 3.246 035 Psc 28 Apr 23 28.9 +03 48 10.4 3.872 3.226 044 Psc 12 May 23 44.7 +04 39 10.4 3.701 3.205 054 Psc 26 May 23 59.4 +05 20 10.3 3.508 3.184 063 Psc 09 Jun 00 12.8 +05 46 10.2 3.298 3.161 073 Psc 23 Jun 00 24.5 +05 52 10.1 3.076 3.137 084 Psc 07 Jul 00 33.9 +05 34 09.9 2.849 3.112 095 Psc 21 Jul 00 40.7 +04 44 09.7 2.626 3.087 107 Psc 04 Aug 00 44.2 +03 16 09.4 2.417 3.060 121 Psc 18 Aug 00 43.9 +01 06 09.1 2.232 3.033 135 Cet 01 Sep 00 39.5 -01 47 08.8 2.087 3.004 150 Cet 15 Sep 00 31.5 -05 11 08.4 1.992 2.975 165 Cet 29 Sep 00 21.2 -08 45 08.3 1.956 2.945 169 Cet 13 Oct 00 10.8 -11 60 08.6 1.981 2.914 155 Cet 27 Oct 00 02.4 -14 33 08.8 2.060 2.883 139 Cet 10 Nov 23 57.7 -16 14 09.0 2.181 2.851 124 Cet 24 Nov 23 57.5 -17 04 09.2 2.330 2.818 110 Cet 08 Dec 00 01.8 -17 11 09.4 2.491 2.785 097 Cet 22 Dec 00 10.1 -16 44 09.5 2.655 2.752 085 Cet *********************************************************
********************************************************* 0h UT (J2000) Mag Δ r El. Con DATE R.A. Decl. V A.U. A.U. o hh mm.m o ′ ********************************************************* 05 Jan 00 21.8 -15 51 09.6 2.812 2.718 074 Cet 19 Jan 00 36.4 -14 39 09.7 2.955 2.684 065 Cet 02 Feb 00 53.3 -13 14 09.7 3.080 2.650 056 Cet 16 Feb 01 12.1 -11 41 09.7 3.183 2.615 047 Cet 02 Mar 01 32.7 -10 03 09.6 3.263 2.581 040 Cet 16 Mar 01 54.6 -08 25 09.5 3.319 2.546 033 Cet 30 Mar 02 17.9 -06 49 09.5 3.352 2.513 028 Cet 13 Apr 02 42.3 -05 20 09.4 3.363 2.479 024 Cet 27 Apr 03 07.8 -04 01 09.3 3.353 2.446 022 Eri 11 May 03 34.3 -02 55 09.3 3.325 2.414 021 Eri 25 May 04 01.7 -02 03 09.3 3.281 2.382 023 Eri 08 Jun 04 29.8 -01 31 09.2 3.223 2.352 026 Eri 22 Jun 04 58.4 -01 18 09.2 3.155 2.323 029 Ori 06 Jul 05 27.5 -01 28 09.2 3.076 2.295 033 Ori 20 Jul 05 56.8 -02 00 09.2 2.991 2.269 037 Ori 03 Aug 06 25.9 -02 56 09.2 2.899 2.244 042 Mon 17 Aug 06 54.8 -04 13 09.1 2.801 2.222 046 Mon 31 Aug 07 23.0 -05 51 09.1 2.698 2.201 051 Mon 14 Sep 07 50.2 -07 46 09.0 2.589 2.183 056 Mon 28 Sep 08 16.3 -09 55 09.0 2.475 2.168 061 Hya 12 Oct 08 40.9 -12 13 08.9 2.354 2.154 066 Hya 26 Oct 09 03.6 -14 35 08.8 2.227 2.144 072 Hya 09 Nov 09 24.0 -16 54 08.7 2.092 2.137 079 Hya 23 Nov 09 41.6 -19 02 08.5 1.952 2.132 086 Hya 07 Dec 09 55.7 -20 51 08.4 1.808 2.130 095 Hya 21 Dec 10 05.5 -22 05 08.1 1.663 2.132 104 Hya *********************************************************
********************************************************* 0h UT (J2000) Mag Δ r El. Con DATE R.A. Decl. V A.U. A.U. o hh mm.m o ′ ********************************************************* 04 Jan 10 10.1 -22 28 07.9 1.524 2.136 115 Hya 18 Jan 10 09.0 -21 36 07.6 1.399 2.143 127 Hya 01 Feb 10 02.8 -19 06 07.3 1.300 2.153 140 Hya 15 Feb 09 53.3 -14 50 07.1 1.242 2.166 152 Hya 01 Mar 09 43.7 -09 10 07.0 1.235 2.181 157 Sex 15 Mar 09 37.4 -02 59 07.2 1.286 2.199 149 Hya 29 Mar 09 36.3 +02 41 07.6 1.389 2.219 136 Hya 12 Apr 09 40.7 +07 15 07.9 1.534 2.241 123 Leo 26 Apr 09 50.2 +10 35 08.3 1.709 2.266 110 Leo 10 May 10 03.7 +12 45 08.6 1.902 2.291 099 Leo 24 May 10 20.2 +14 00 08.8 2.104 2.319 089 Leo 07 Jun 10 38.8 +14 29 09.0 2.307 2.348 080 Leo 21 Jun 10 59.0 +14 23 09.2 2.507 2.378 071 Leo 05 Jul 11 20.2 +13 50 09.3 2.698 2.410 063 Leo 19 Jul 11 42.1 +12 57 09.4 2.877 2.442 055 Leo 02 Aug 12 04.5 +11 49 09.5 3.042 2.475 048 Vir 16 Aug 12 27.3 +10 32 09.5 3.190 2.508 041 Vir 30 Aug 12 50.4 +09 11 09.6 3.318 2.542 034 Vir 13 Sep 13 13.7 +07 48 09.6 3.425 2.576 028 Vir 27 Sep 13 37.2 +06 27 09.6 3.511 2.611 022 Vir 11 Oct 14 00.9 +05 13 09.6 3.573 2.645 018 Vir 25 Oct 14 24.7 +04 08 09.6 3.611 2.679 018 Vir 08 Nov 14 48.4 +03 17 09.6 3.625 2.713 020 Vir 22 Nov 15 12.1 +02 41 09.7 3.615 2.747 025 Ser 06 Dec 15 35.5 +02 24 09.8 3.582 2.781 031 Ser 20 Dec 15 58.3 +02 28 09.9 3.527 2.814 038 Ser *********************************************************
************************ Opposition Conjunction ************************ 01 Jul 2006 01 Feb 2007 03 Sep 2007 29 Mar 2008 04 Dec 2008 12 Sep 2009 03 May 2010 22 Dec 2010 29 Jul 2011 22 Feb 2012 24 Sep 2012 09 May 2013 20 Feb 2014 25 Oct 2014 11 Jun 2015 19 Jan 2016 20 Aug 2016 14 Mar 2017 27 Oct 2017 05 Aug 2018 08 Apr 2019 02 Dec 2019 12 Jul 2020 09 Feb 2021 *************************
The user applying this data for any purpose forgoes any liability against the author. None of the information should be used for either legal or medical purposes. Although the data is accurate as possible some errors might be present. The onus of its use is place solely with the user.