SkyEye

Minor Planets in 2024

Positions of selected minor planets at opposition in 2024

The chart shows the positions selected minor planets at the instants of their oppositions in ecliptic longitude. All of these objects have relatively large inclinations and may stray far from the ecliptic (which is marked on the chart). For this reason, the dates of opposition (or conjunction) in right ascension may differ by several days from the dates listed below. Similarly, the date of greatest angular elongation from the Sun may also fail to coincide with the date of opposition in ecliptic longitude.

Only 4 Vesta has the potential to reach naked-eye visibility but the other large asteroids — 1 Ceres, 2 Pallas and 3 Juno — are visible in small- to medium-sized telescopes. The trans-Neptunian dwarf planets require large telescopes and detailed finder charts, and with the possible of exception of 134340 Pluto, are probably beyond the reach of amateur astronomers.

DateMinor PlanetEventApparent Magnitude
20 January 134340 Pluto conjunction
03 March 3 Juno opposition in Leo +9
30 March 136472 Makemake opposition in Coma Berenices +17
14 April 136199 Eris conjunction
20 April 136108 Haumea opposition in Boötes +17
19 May 2 Pallas opposition in Hercules +9
06 July 1 Ceres opposition in Sagittarius +7
23 July 134340 Pluto opposition in Capricornus +15
20 August 4 Vesta conjunction
03 October 136472 Makemake conjunction
16 October 3 Juno conjunction
18 October 136199 Eris opposition in Cetus +19
24 October 136108 Haumea conjunction