Q156745

Also known as (723) Hammonia, Hammonia

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: J. Palisa
Discovery site: Vienna Observatory
Discovery date: 21 October 1911
Pronunciation: / h æ ˈ m oʊ n i ə /
Named after: Hamburg
Alternative designations: 1911 NB

~1 min read

Article

723 Hammonia is a minor planet orbiting the Sun. It was discovered in 1911 and is named after the city of Hamburg. Although the name alludes to Hamburg it was discovered in Vienna.

The asteroid was discovered by the noted and prolific astronomer Johann Palisa. He worked from Pola early in his career and later from Vienna observatories. The same night he discovered Hammonia, he also discovered 724 Hapag and 725 Amanda. He discovered dozens and dozens of asteroids between 1874 and 1923, ranging from 136 Austria to 1073 Gellivara.