The misidentification of Elon Musk’s car as a minor planet highlights a bigger problem—how to protect humanity from near-Earth objects. | By Tim Lyster
On January 2, the Minor Planet Center (MPC) at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics announced the discovery of a new near-Earth object (NEO), designating it 2018 CN41. This object was initially identified by an amateur astronomer and was notable for its close approach, coming within 150,000 miles—within the Moon’s orbit—and warranting further monitoring due to its potential collision risk to Earth.
However, less than 17 hours after the announcement, the MPC issued a retraction. Further analysis revealed that 2018 CN41 was not a natural asteroid but, in fact, Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster, launched into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on February 7, 2018. The vehicle, complete with a mannequin named Starman dressed as an astronaut in the driver’s seat, was a test payload to demonstrate the rocket’s capabilities.
This case of mistaken identity underscores the challenges faced by astronomers in distinguishing between natural celestial bodies and human-made objects in space. The MPC primarily focuses on tracking natural small bodies like asteroids and comets. However, the increasing number of artificial objects in space complicates this task. Peter Veres, an astronomer at the MPC, noted that as more artificial objects are launched, their observations inadvertently enter the MPC's catalog, making differentiation between natural and artificial objects challenging.
The initial identification of 2018 CN41 was made by an amateur astronomer from Turkey—who retained his anonymity—highlighting the significant role that citizen scientists play in astronomical discoveries. The MPC relies on a global network of both professional and amateur astronomers who submit observations of new objects. These contributions are invaluable, especially when considering the limited number of professional astronomers available to monitor the vastness of interplanetary space.
The incident also brings to light the challenges posed by the increasing number of human-made objects in space. Jonathan McDowell, at the Center for Astrophysics, emphasized the need for greater transparency from nations and companies operating spacecraft in deep space. While objects in low Earth orbit are tracked by entities like the U.S. Space Force, those further out remain largely unregulated. The growing number of untracked objects could hinder efforts to protect Earth from potentially hazardous asteroids, leading to wasted observation efforts and potentially skewing statistical analyses of near-Earth asteroid threats.
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The collaboration between professional and amateur astronomers was crucial in quickly resolving the misidentification of 2018 CN41. This partnership exemplifies the importance of how hobbyists can support the professional research community. There are many more amateur astronomers than professionals, and the amateurs, who are equipped with increasingly sophisticated technology, can monitor the skies and report unusual objects, significantly helping to catalog the cosmos. Observations of this kind can lead to the discovery of new asteroids, comets, and other transient phenomena that might otherwise go unnoticed.
However, the incident also highlights the need for improved methods to distinguish between natural celestial bodies and artificial objects. As space exploration and commercial activities expand, the number of objects in space—both operational and defunct—continues to grow. This proliferation increases the likelihood of misidentifications and underscores the need for comprehensive tracking and cataloging of artificial objects.
The misidentification of the Tesla as an asteroid serves as a reminder of the complexities inherent in space observation. It underscores the invaluable contributions of citizen scientists in monitoring and discovering celestial objects, while also highlighting the challenges posed by the increasing number of artificial objects in space. As humans continue to explore and utilize space, collaboration between professional astronomers, amateur enthusiasts, and regulatory bodies will be essential to ensure accurate tracking and identification of objects in our solar system.