Q112385

Also known as (886) Washingtonia, Washingtonia

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: George Henry Peters
Discovery site: Washington, D.C.
Discovery date: 16 November 1917
Alternative designations: 1917 b
Observation arc: 105.87 yr (38670 days)
Aphelion: 4.0269 AU (602.42 Gm )

Article

886 Washingtonia is a minor planet orbiting the Sun. It was discovered on 16 November 1917, from Washington, D.C., and is named after the 1st President of the United States, George Washington. Washingtonia may be a "fresh asteroid" that had its surface refreshed within the last 10 million years via collision(s).

Discovery circumstances