24 Themis
Also known as (24) Themis, Themis
main-belt Themistian 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
- Annibale de Gasparis
- Discovery date
- 5 April 1853
- Pronunciation
- / ˈ θ iː m ɪ s /
- Named after
- Themis
- Alternative designations
- 1947 BA; 1955 OH
- Minor planet category
- Main belt ( Themis )
Article
24 Themis is one of the largest asteroids in the asteroid belt. At roughly 200 kilometres (120 mi) in diameter, it is also the largest member of the Themistian family. It was discovered by Annibale de Gasparis on 5 April 1853. It is named after Themis, the personification of natural law and divine order in Greek mythology.
Discovery and observations