Q150730
Also known as (305) Gordonia, Gordonia
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
- Auguste Charlois
- Discovery date
- 16 February 1891
- Pronunciation
- / ɡ ɔːr ˈ d oʊ n i ə /
- Alternative designations
- A891 DA; 1938 SC 1 , 1970 SP 1
- Minor planet category
- Main belt
- Observation arc
- 123.90 yr (45255 d)
Article
305 Gordonia is a fairly typical, although sizeable Main belt asteroid.
It was discovered by Auguste Charlois on 16 February 1891 in Nice and named after James Gordon Bennett Jr., his patron.