Asteroids Discovered from Piszkéstető Between 1982 and 2017

The Piszkéstető Observatory is one of Hungary’s most prominent astronomical research facilities, which has made numerous important discoveries in the field of small Solar System bodies over the past decades. Observations and discoveries made here have gained international recognition, especially in the study of asteroids. The goal of this data visualization is to present the asteroids discovered from the observatory between 1982 and 2017.

The visualization not only includes the year of each asteroid’s discovery but also presents additional scientifically significant data. This includes the object’s apparent magnitude at the time of its first observation, which can provide insight into its distance and reflectivity (albedo). Additionally, the asteroid’s approximate diameter is shown, calculated based on brightness data and other characteristics. The data visualization indicates whether the celestial object was discovered by a woman (orange, diamond shape) or a man (blue, circle), and also whether it has been officially named (symbols with a circle) or currently only has a numerical designation.

This data visualization also serves as a tool for science communication: it offers insight into the world of asteroids for the general public, while also inspiring future researchers and amateur astronomers.

As a designer, I have a deep passion for astronomy and astronomical data—I can truly lose myself in them. My data visualizations are created manually in Illustrator after extensive data collection and careful planning. For me, it’s not only about displaying the data, but also about the process of creating these pieces. Thanks to the continuous discoveries in the field, the visualizations are never truly final—they are periodically updated to reflect new findings.

I also collaborate with Hungarian astronomers to ensure the data is as accurate as possible. These visualizations are valuable for them as well, helping to reveal patterns and connections that may have previously gone unnoticed. They can even highlight small but meaningful details—such as how many asteroid discoveries have been made by Hungarian women.