211 Isolda
Also known as (211) Isolda, Isolda
main-belt asteroid
Picture of the Day · NASA
Jupiter and Venus from Earth
2026-06-07
It was visible around the world. The sunset conjunction of Jupiter (left) and Venus (right) in 2012 was visible almost no matter where you lived on Earth. Anyone on our planet with a clear western horizon at sunset could see them. That year, a creative photographer traveled away from the town lights of Szubin, Poland to photograph a near closest approach of the two planets. The bright planets were then separated by only three degrees and his daughter struck a humorous pose. A faint red sunset still glowed in the background. Jupiter and Venus are together again this week after sunset, passing within a degree of each other about two days from today.
© Marek Nikodem (PPSAE) · via NASA APOD
Key facts
- Discovered by
- Johann Palisa
- Discovery date
- 10 December 1879
- Pronunciation
- / ɪ ˈ z oʊ l d ə /
- Named after
- Iseult
- Alternative designations
- A879 XA, 1912 AB, 1912 BA, 1950 FM
- Minor planet category
- Main belt
~1 min read
Article
211 Isolda is a very large, dark main-belt asteroid. It is classified as a C-type asteroid and is probably composed of primitive carbonaceous material. The spectra of the asteroid displays evidence of aqueous alteration.
It was discovered by Austrian astronomer Johann Palisa on 10 December 1879, in Pola, and is possibly named after Isolde, heroine of the legend of Tristan and Iseult.