Q152488
Also known as (401) Ottilia, Ottilia
outer 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
- Max Wolf
- Discovery date
- 16 March 1895
- Pronunciation
- / ɒ ˈ t ɪ l i ə /
- Named after
- Ottilia
- Alternative designations
- 1895 BT
- Minor planet category
- Main belt ( Cybele )
~1 min read
Article
401 Ottilia is a large main-belt asteroid. It was discovered by Max Wolf on March 16, 1895, in Heidelberg. It is named after the Germanic folkloric character Ottilia.
The semi-major axis of the orbit of 401 Ottilia at 3.47 AU lies just outside the 2:1 Kirkwood gap, located at 3.27 AU. 401 Ottilia is part of the Cybele asteroid group.