Q142411

Also known as (169) Zelia, Zelia

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: P. M. Henry , 1876
Discovery date: 28 September 1876
Named after: Zelia Martin
Alternative designations: A876 SB; 1933 FC 2
Minor planet category: Main belt
Observation arc: 131.26 yr (47944 d)

~1 min read

Article

169 Zelia is a main belt asteroid that was discovered by the brothers Paul Henry and Prosper Henry on September 28, 1876. Credit for this discovery was given to Prosper. Initial orbital elements for this asteroid were published in 1877 by American astronomer H. A. Howe.

Based upon its spectrum, this body is classified as a rare O-type asteroid in the taxonomic system of Bus & Binzel. Photometric observations of this asteroid during 2009 gave a light curve with a period of 14.537 ± 0.001 hours and a brightness variation of 0.14 ± 0.03 in magnitude.