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Finder Charts

Asteroid means "starlike" and so many asteroids will appear just like stars through a telescope. Preparing a detailed finder chart will help you locate the asteroid and track its movement over days or weeks.

How to Use the Finder Charts

Note: Charts Courtesy of ECU Planetarium Software

Finder charts that are used to locate asteroids usually represent a relatively small area of the sky; so that the star field can be identifed through the eyepiece of a telescope. The best way to use finder charts that have a small field of view is to first indentify the area of the finder chart using a larger map such as SkyAtlas 2000. With the larger map you should be able to zero in on at least one of the brighter stars on the finder chart that can be seen visually or through a finderscope. This method works well for the brighter objects, and can even be used from moderately light polluted suburban locations. For fainter asteroids a more detailed star hopping technique may be required. Once you find and clearly identify a star on the finder chart you should be well on your way to finding the asteroid you are looking for. Good star hopping skills are very beneficial for asteroid hunting. For very bright asteroids a larger finder chart can be made for use with binoculars or wide field telescopes.

The sample charts are listed by date throughout the year with one valid chart for each date interval listed. You just pick a date when you will be observing and then click on the asteroid chart for that date period. Most of these asteroids will be visible for longer intervals than the sample chart shows so we have provided information at the bottom of this page about how you can make your own charts with a planetarium program.

Chart for Leto (59 kb)
Sept 2 - Nov 29

This chart can be printed and used to find the asteroid (68) Leto between September 2 and November 29, 2006. It shows the path of Leto against the background stars at five day intervals. The 4.5 magnitude star Omega (105) Aquarii is plotted on this chart and can be used as a finder star. More information about the visibility of Leto in 2006 can be found on the current events page.

Chart for Ceres (66 kb)
Aug 10 - Dec 3

This chart can be printed and used to find the asteroid (1) Ceres between August 10 and December 3, 2006. It shows the path of Ceres against the background stars at seven day intervals. The 3.8 magnitude star Zeta (34) Capricorni is plotted on this chart and can be used as a finder star. More information about the visibility of Ceres in 2006 can be found on the current events page.

Chart for Hebe (70 kb)
Sept 2 - Nov 1

This chart can be printed and used to find the asteroid (6) Hebe between September 2 and November 1, 2006. It shows the path of Hebe against the background stars at five day intervals. The 4.2 magnitude star Psi (16) Capricorni is plotted on this chart and can be used as a finder star. More information about the visibility of Hebe in 2006 can be found on the current events page.

Chart for Eunomia (70 kb)
Sept 1 - Nov 10

This chart can be printed and used to find the asteroid (15) Eunomia between September 1 and November 10, 2006. It shows the path of Eunomia against the background stars at five day intervals. The 3.5 magnitude star Alpha (6) Capricorni is plotted on this chart and can be used as a finder star. More information about the visibility of Eunomia in 2006 can be found on the current events page.

Chart for Amphitrite (77 kb)
July 20 - Sept 28

This chart can be printed and used to find the asteroid (29) Amphitrite between July 20 and September 28, 2006. It shows the path of Amphitrite against the background stars at seven day intervals. The 2.6 magnitude star Zeta (38) Sagattarii, proper name Ascella, is plotted on this chart and can be used as a finder star. More information about the visibility of Amphitrite in 2006 can be found on the current events page.

Chart for Hygiea (83 kb)
July 20 - Oct 2

This chart can be printed and used to find the asteroid (10) Hygiea between July 20 and Oct 2, 2006. It shows the path of Hygiea against the background stars at seven day intervals. The 2.9 magnitude star Pi (41) Sagattarii, proper name Albaldah, is plotted on this chart and can be used as a finder star. More information about the visibility of Hygiea in 2006 can be found on the current events page.

Make your own finder charts

With planetarium software such as The Earth Centered Universe and a good printer you can create high quality custom finder charts on your own. Planetarium software is the best method for making these charts because you can set the magnitude limit of the stars on the finder chart to match the predicted magnitude of the asteroid you will be looking for.