Q149100
Also known as (246) Asporina, Asporina
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
- Alphonse Borrelly
- Discovery date
- 6 March 1885
- Named after
- Asporina
- Alternative designations
- A885 EA
- Minor planet category
- Main belt
- Observation arc
- 130.96 yr (47834 d)
Article
246 Asporina is a sizeable main-belt asteroid. It is classified as one of the few A-type asteroids.
It was discovered by Alphonse Borrelly on 6 March 1885 in Marseille and was named after Asporina, a goddess worshipped on Mount Asporenus (or Aspordenus), Asia Minor. This location is known in the modern day as the Yunt Mountains, and Asporina is sometimes identified with the goddess Cybele.