Q152678

Also known as (411) Xanthe, Xanthe

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: Auguste Charlois
Discovery site: Nice Observatory
Discovery date: 7 January 1896
Pronunciation: / ˈ z æ n θ iː /
Named after: Xanthe , (Greek mythology)
Alternative designations: 1896 CJ

~1 min read

Article

411 Xanthe is an asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 77 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by French astronomer Auguste Charlois at Nice Observatory on 7 January 1896. The asteroid was named after Xanthe, an Oceanid or sea nymph, and one of the many Titan daughters of Oceanus and Tethys from Greek mythology.

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