The largest asteroid

The largest asteroid is called Ceres, with a diameter of 913 km. It was also the first to be discovered. It was found by the Italian Giuseppe Piazzi on January 1, 1801. It got its name because Ceres, a goddess in Roman mythology, was associated with Sicily, where Piazzi was born. The next largest asteroid after Ceres is Pallas, discovered in 1802. Its diameter is 523 km.

Asteroids, huge rock boulders orbit the sun at a distance of about three times the distance from the Earth to the Sun, in what is called the asteroid belt. This is situated between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Though it is the largest asteroid, Ceres is not the brightest because its surface is dark and reflects only 9% of the sunlight falling on it. In fact, it is never bright enough to be seen by the naked eye.

All data is taken from the Sky Almanac 2003, a new publication giving details of all major astronomical events throughout 2003. Each month an astronomical photo shot locally is also featured.

Sky Almanac 2003 is an invaluable tool for all beginner and advanced sky gazers and costs only Lm2. It may be obtained by sending a cheque to the Astronomical Society of Malta, PO Box 174, Valletta CMR 01.

Monthly almanac

Tomorrow: New Moon

March 11: First quarter moon; Saturn near the moon.

March 12: The sun enters Pisces today, contrary to false astrological belief

March 15: Jupiter close to the moon

March 18: Full moon

March 21: Spring starts today

March 25: Last quarter Moon; Mars close to the moon

March 29: Venus close to the moon