March 29, 2022
On this date in 1807, German astronomer Wilhelm Olbers discovered the asteroid Vesta. Vesta is in the asteroid belt and is thought to be the second largest asteroid in this region following Ceres. It was originally considered a planet, but as more asteroids were being discovered it was demoted. Vesta is currently situated in the constellation of Taurus, about 9° south of Mars which rises just before sunrise.
The asteroid Vesta as photographed by the Dawn space craft from approximately 3,230 miles away (5,200 km). Note the patches of lighter and darker brown ejecta surrounding some of the larger craters. Image credit: NASA/JPL/MPS/DLR/IDA/Björn Jónsson