United States – NASA reports that a group of scientists and volunteers have identified unusual activity on 15 asteroids, previously thought to be inactive.
To find these 15 rare objects, more than 8,000 volunteers combed through 430,000 images from the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) on the Victor M. Blanco telescope in Chile.
Volunteer Virgilio Goonano from Udine, Italy, expressed his great happiness at being part of NASA’s historic project called “Citizen Science for Active Asteroids.”
The project’s website indicated that “finding an active asteroid is a rare event, as estimates indicate that activity occurs at a rate of approximately one in every 10,000 asteroids.”
Active asteroids are characterized by comet-like tails or envelopes of gas and dust. Scientists expect these discoveries to provide invaluable insights into the formation and evolution of the solar system.
By studying these mysterious objects, scientists aim to unravel the mysteries surrounding the origins of water on Earth. This endeavor will also help gain important knowledge for future space exploration, because the same ice that causes comet-like tails could power rockets or provide breathable air.
One of the 15 asteroids identified through this project is asteroid 2015 VA108. It is an asteroid orbiting within the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Despite its location, it shows a comet-like tail. This refuted previous assumptions about the behavior of asteroids within this region.
NASA is still looking for more volunteers. The results of this study show that there is still much to be discovered, and a collaborative effort will help. For those inspired to contribute to the search for more active asteroids, Dr. Colin Orion Chandler invites you to participate in the project by visiting their website.
Source: Interesting Engineering
#Volunteers #NASA #discover #rare #activity #asteroids
2024-03-28 08:48:04