Which prominent asteroid, discovered by Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers in 1807, is the second-most massive object in the asteroid belt and the only asteroid visible to the naked eye under dark skies?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. 4 Vesta
- Step 1: Vesta has an average diameter of 525 kilometers and retains a differentiated interior with a metallic core and basaltic crust.
- Step 2: Due to its high surface albedo (reflectivity) and size, Vesta's apparent magnitude can reach +5.1 at opposition, making it intermittently visible to keen naked eyes.
Answer
4 Vesta
Why not the others: '2 Pallas' Pallas is the third-most massive asteroid, discovered in 1802, but is dimmer and not typically naked-eye visible; '10 Hygiea' Hygiea is the fourth-largest asteroid, carbonaceous and too dark to see without optical aids; '433 Eros' Eros is an S-type near-Earth asteroid visited by NEAR Shoemaker, far smaller than Vesta.
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