4 Vesta

1 9.4

A bright space rock in the belt between Mars and Jupiter

proper noun

: 4 Vesta

The Dawn spacecraft visited 4 Vesta in 2011, revealing much about its surface.

Examples

Among the objects in the asteroid belt, 4 Vesta stands out for its brightness.
The asteroid 4 Vesta is one of the largest in the asteroid belt.
Scientists observed 4 Vesta using both ground-based and space telescopes.
Did you know that 4 Vesta was discovered in 1807?
4 Vesta is the brightest asteroid in the asteroid belt, making it an intriguing target for scientists.
Astronomers often study 4 Vesta because it offers valuable insights into the early solar system.
In the night sky, 4 Vesta can sometimes be seen with the naked eye, shining brightly among the stars.

Synonyms

Vesta

vs4 Vesta

Specialized

3 8.7

A large bright space rock in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter

states brightest only within the asteroid belt rather than across the whole solar system

Surface Forms

4 Vesta main

Morphology

4 + Vesta

This is a conventional astronomical name formed by a numeral (4) indicating discovery/order plus the proper name Vesta; if a learner knows '4' and that 'Vesta' is the asteroid name, the referent (the fourth-discovered/numbered asteroid Vesta) is directly inferable. The composition is a transparent naming convention used cross-linguistically for minor planets and asteroids, so no idiomatic knowledge is required.

Etymology

4 Vesta shows two parts: the number 4 and the name Vesta. Early astronomers gave each asteroid a number in the order they found it, so 4 means 'the fourth discovered', and Vesta is the name of 'the goddess of the hearth', a warm, bright image that helps you remember this shiny asteroid.