All articles tagged with #space objects
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, discovered in July 2025 and only the third of its kind observed, has changed its course unexpectedly, raising concerns among scientists about its trajectory and origin, with ongoing discussions amplified by media and online videos.
The article explores the ambiguity in defining what constitutes a moon, highlighting the discovery of quasi-moons and mini-moons around Earth and other planets, and discusses the ongoing debate among scientists about proper terminology and classifications in astronomy.
Astronomers share their favorite objects in space, ranging from the first directly imaged exoplanet system PDS 70, the mysterious transits of Tabby's Star, the dramatic history of Eta Carina, the neutron star 1E2259+586, to the cosmic microwave background, highlighting the diverse and fascinating phenomena in the universe.
A quasi-moon is a small object that shares Earth's orbit around the Sun without being a true satellite, and the asteroid 2023 FW13 has been silently orbiting Earth for over 60 years, revealing new insights into these rare cosmic companions.
Astronomy Day 2025, falling on September 27, encourages enthusiasts to observe six spectacular celestial targets: the Moon, Saturn, Polaris, Orion Nebula, Pleiades star cluster, and the Milky Way, highlighting the variety and beauty of the night sky.
Humans have left various objects in space, including ashes of Gene Roddenberry, a family photo on the Moon, a sculpture commemorating fallen astronauts, goodwill messages from world leaders, a scandal involving postal covers, and Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster with Starman, reflecting our cultural, personal, and exploratory aspirations beyond Earth.
Research suggests Earth may have at least six temporary moons, called minimoons, at any given time, originating from lunar debris or asteroid collisions, but their small size and rapid movement make them difficult to detect. These objects typically orbit for about nine months and are constantly replenished, offering insights into lunar and solar system dynamics, as well as potential commercial opportunities.
A California high school student, Matteo Paz, developed an AI model that uncovered 1.5 million previously unknown space objects in NASA's NEOWISE dataset, demonstrating the potential of machine learning in space exploration and data analysis.
A misread astronomy poster led to the discovery of "Zoozve," which turned out to be the first quasi-moon, 2002 VE 68, near Venus. Quasi-moons orbit the Sun but are influenced by planets along their path. This object has a unique orbit, almost synchronized with Venus, and may have originated as a near-Earth asteroid. The discovery has led to the recognition of other quasi-moons, including two around Earth, and has sparked interest in the dynamics of these space objects within the Solar System.
India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander launch time was shifted by four seconds to avoid close approaches to other space objects. The liftoff took place on July 14, making India the fourth country to safely soft land on the moon. The decision to change the launch time was made after analyzing the orbits of tracked space objects to ensure collision avoidance. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) emphasized that this is a mandatory practice for all space launch vehicles. The Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully reached the moon and initial science results were discussed, including measurements of the lunar plasma environment and temperature. However, attempts to reestablish contact with the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover were unsuccessful.