On May 2, 2025, asteroid Vesta will reach opposition, presenting the best opportunity this year to observe it. During opposition, Vesta will be directly opposite the sun from Earth's perspective, maximizing its illumination and brightness.
While Vesta may be challenging to spot with the naked eye (magnitude +5.7), it will be readily visible through binoculars or a telescope as a distinct point of light. To locate Vesta, find the constellation Libra in the southeastern sky after sunset and look for the blue dwarf star Zubeneschamali. Vesta will be positioned less than 10 degrees to the upper right of Zubeneschamali, near the star 16 Librae.
At the time of opposition, Vesta will be approximately 177 million kilometers (1.182 AU) from Earth. Vesta is the second-largest asteroid in the main asteroid belt, boasting a diameter of 525 kilometers. NASA's Dawn spacecraft orbited Vesta in 2011 and 2012, providing valuable data about its composition and geological features. The next opposition of Vesta will occur in October 2026.