222 Lucia

Also known as (222) Lucia, Lucia

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.

Key facts

Discovered by: Johann Palisa
Discovery date: 9 February 1882
Pronunciation: / ˈ l uː ʃ i ə / , German: [ ˈluːtsiɐ ]
Alternative designations: A882 CA, 1899 EC, 1919 AB
Minor planet category: Main belt ( Themis )
Observation arc: 117.10 yr (42769 d)

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Article

222 Lucia is a large Themistian asteroid. It was discovered by Johann Palisa on 9 February 1882 in Vienna and named after Lucia, daughter of Austro-Hungarian explorer Graf Wilczek.

This object is spectral C-type and is probably composed of primitive carbonaceous material. Based upon analysis of infrared spectra, it has a diameter of 59.8 ± 0.8 km. This object belongs to the Themis family, which was formed by the break-up of a larger parent body about a billion years ago.