Q154525

Also known as (459) Signe, Signe

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: M. F. Wolf
Discovery site: Heidelberg Obs.
Discovery date: 22 October 1900
Named after: Signy , Norse mythology
Alternative designations: 1900 FM
Minor planet category: main belt · ( middle ) , background

~1 min read

Article

459 Signe, provisional designation 1900 FM, is a stony asteroid from the background population of the intermediate asteroid belt, approximately 26 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by German astronomer Max Wolf at Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory on 22 October 1900. The asteroid was presumably named after Signy, a character of the Scandinavian Völsunga saga and Norse mythology. Signy is the daughter of Völsung and sister of Sigmund.

References