Q150022

Also known as (275) Sapientia, Sapientia

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: 15 April 1888
Pronunciation: / s eɪ p i ˈ ɛ n ʃ ə /
Named after: Sapientia
Alternative designations: A888 GB, 1906 AB, 1962 GE, 1962 HA
Minor planet category: Main belt

~2 min read

Article

275 Sapientia is a very large main belt asteroid. It was discovered by Austrain astronomer Johann Palisa on 15 April 1888 in Vienna. This object is named for the Roman personification of wisdom, Sophia.

This object is orbiting the Sun at a distance of 2.77 km with an eccentricity of 0.16 and an orbital period of 4.61 km. The orbital period is inclined at an angle of 4.76° It is classified as a C-type asteroid and is probably composed of carbonaceous material.