Minor planet – or asteroid – 8 Flora reaches opposition on 12 March 2025.
It can be found shining at mag. +9.6 within Leo, the Lion, south of Denebola (Beta (β) Leonis), the star that marks the end of the lion’s tail.
Flora begins the month as a mag. +9.8 object in Virgo, 2.3° west-northwest of mag. +4.1 Omicron (ο) Virginis and adjacent to the Virgo–Leo border.
It’s a solid target for a small telescope but too faint for average binoculars.
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Where to see 8 Flora
Asteroid Flora's track takes it in front of the mag. +10.4 edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 3628, the northernmost galaxy in the famous Leo Triplet group.
It's located within the ‘back leg’ of Leo, mid-way between mag. +3.3 Chertan (Theta (θ) Leonis) and mag. +4.0 Iota (ι) Leonis.
NGC 3628 is known as the Hamburger Galaxy due to its sideways appearance (it's an edge-on galaxy) and thick, dark central dust lane.
The crossing occurs on 9–12 April 2025, when Flora will have dimmed to mag. +10.3, but still within small telescope range and ideal for imaging.
About 8 Flora
Asteroid Flora is a large minor planet with a mean diameter of 128km, with a relatively high albedo how much light it reflects) of 24.3%.
At favourable oppositions, it can brighten to mag. +7.9 but is also capable of dimming to +11.6.
The March 2025 opposition presents Flora roughly in the middle of this range. Flora has the second-closest mean orbital distance of the main-belt asteroids, at 2.20 AU.
If you observe or photograph asteroid Flora, get in touch by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com.
