Find & Observe Asteroid Pallas with Binoculars or Telescope

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide shows you how to locate and observe asteroid Pallas, one of the largest main-belt asteroids, using binoculars or a small telescope. You’ll learn what equipment you need, how to find its current position, and how to distinguish it from stars. Pallas is a challenging but rewarding target for amateur astronomers.

What You’ll Need

Binoculars (at least 7×50 or 10×50) or a telescope (any aperture, but 4 inches or larger helps)
A star chart or planetarium app (e.g., Stellarium, SkySafari, or a printed chart)
Dark sky location (away from city lights)
Clear night with good seeing
Red flashlight to preserve night vision
Notebook and pen for logging observations

Step-by-Step

Determine Pallas’s current position. Use a planetarium app or website (like the Minor Planet Center’s ephemeris service) to get the asteroid’s right ascension and declination for your observing date and time. Many apps allow you to search for “Pallas” directly and will show its path across the sky.
Plan your observing session. Choose a night when Pallas is above the horizon during your observing window. Check the moon phase – a bright moon will wash out faint objects. Aim for a night with no clouds and steady air.
Set up your equipment. If using a telescope, let it cool to ambient temperature for at least 30 minutes. Mount it on a stable tripod. For binoculars, use a tripod adapter if you have one – hand-holding makes it hard to see faint objects.
Find a reference star field. Using your star chart or app, identify a bright star or asterism near Pallas’s position. For example, in 2025, Pallas is in the constellation Virgo. Locate Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, and use it as a starting point.
Sweep to the asteroid. With your binoculars or low-power eyepiece, slowly move from your reference star toward the coordinates of Pallas. Use the field of view of your eyepiece to estimate how far to move. For example, if your eyepiece shows a 1° field, and Pallas is 2° east of Spica, move two fields east.
Identify Pallas. At the expected location, you’ll see a faint point of light. To confirm it’s the asteroid, note the pattern of stars around it. Sketch the field or take a photo. Wait 20–30 minutes and look again. If the object has moved relative to the stars, it’s Pallas. (Pallas moves about 0.5° per day, so in 30 minutes it will shift slightly.)
Observe and record. Once identified, note its brightness, color (slightly yellowish), and any nearby stars. Log your observation with date, time, and sky conditions.

Common Mistakes

Confusing Pallas with a star. Pallas looks like a star, so the only way to confirm is to see its motion over time. Many beginners mistake a field star for the asteroid.
Using too high a magnification. High power makes the field too narrow and the asteroid harder to find. Start with low power (e.g., 25–50x) to locate it, then increase if needed.
Observing during full moon. Moonlight brightens the sky, making faint asteroids invisible. Check the lunar phase before heading out.
Not letting optics cool down. A warm telescope creates air currents inside, blurring the image. Wait at least 30 minutes after setup.
Using outdated coordinates. Asteroid positions change daily. Always get fresh ephemeris data for your exact date and time.

Tips

Use averted vision: look slightly to the side of where you expect Pallas to be. This uses the more sensitive rod cells in your eye and helps see faint objects.
Print a detailed star chart with stars down to magnitude 10 or 11. This makes it easier to match what you see in the eyepiece.
Observe on multiple consecutive nights. Seeing Pallas move against the stars is a thrilling confirmation and helps you learn its path.
If you have a GoTo telescope, enter Pallas’s coordinates manually – many GoTo databases include asteroids, but if not, you can input RA/Dec.
Try using a nebula filter? No, that won’t help. Just use a dark sky and dark-adapted eyes.

Troubleshooting

I can’t find Pallas at all. Double-check your coordinates and the time. If you’re using an app, make sure it’s set to your location and time zone. Try a wider field of view (e.g., 2° or more) to sweep the area.
I see a star that might be Pallas, but I’m not sure. Mark its position relative to a distinctive star pattern, then return after 30 minutes. If it moved, it’s the asteroid. Alternatively, use a planetarium app to compare the star field – many apps show the asteroid’s position in real time.
The sky is too bright. Move to a darker site, or wait for the moon to set. Even a small amount of light pollution can hide a magnitude 8–9 asteroid.
My telescope won’t point to the right area. Re-align your finder scope. Use a bright star to center the finder on the telescope’s field, then try again.
Pallas is too faint to see. Make sure your eyes are dark-adapted (wait 20 minutes in the dark). Use averted vision. If you’re using binoculars, try a larger aperture (e.g., 15×70). If using a telescope, try increasing magnification gradually – sometimes higher power darkens the background sky and makes the asteroid more visible.

Frequently Asked Questions

How bright is Pallas?

Pallas typically shines at magnitude 8–9, which is within reach of binoculars under dark skies. It can brighten to magnitude 7.5 at opposition, but it’s never visible to the naked eye.

When is the best time to observe Pallas?

The best time is near opposition, when it’s opposite the Sun in the sky and visible all night. You can find opposition dates in an almanac or planetarium app.

Can I see Pallas with 10×50 binoculars?

Yes, under dark skies and with averted vision. It will look like a faint star. A tripod helps to keep the binoculars steady.

How do I know I’m not looking at a star?

Compare your view to a star chart. If the object is not on the chart, it might be Pallas. The definitive test is to observe again after 30–60 minutes and see if it moved relative to the background stars.

Does Pallas have any special features?

Pallas is one of the largest asteroids, about 512 km in diameter, and is notable for its highly inclined orbit. Through a telescope, it appears as a point of light – you won’t see any surface detail.

What if I live in the Northern Hemisphere?

Pallas’s orbit takes it through both hemispheres. Use a planetarium app to see if it’s above your horizon. It can be observed from most latitudes, but the best viewing is when it’s high in the sky.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.