Q155698

Also known as (587) Hypsipyle, Hypsipyle

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 February 1906
Pronunciation: / h ɪ p ˈ s ɪ p ɪ l iː /
Named after: Hypsipyle , (Greek mythology)
Alternative designations: 1906 TF · 1931 CH, 1956 EN 1

Article

587 Hypsipyle, provisional designation 1906 TF, is a stony Phocaea asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 12 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 22 February 1906, by Germany astronomer Max Wolf at Heidelberg Observatory in southwest Germany.

The asteroid was named after the Queen Hypsipyle from Greek mythology and is one of the principal members of the Phocaea family.