In the distant past, the solar system was plagued by impacts and collisions. Millions of rocky objects were moving chaotically through the system, crashing into each other in collisional cascades. Over time, many of them became part of the rocky planets. What remains of the space rocks is mostly collected in the main asteroid belt.
But some are otherwise hidden in places that are difficult to observe. Unfortunately for life on Earth, some of the hardest species to spot are found close to us. They are hidden in the glare of the Sun and are uncomfortably close to our earthly home.
A scientist from the Carnegie Institute for Science has discovered a new asteroid in our neighborhood. Its name is 2025 SC79 and it is the newest member of the Atira asteroid group. These are near-Earth asteroids whose orbit is entirely within Earth’s orbit. The Atiras are the smallest group of near-Earth objects and 2025 SC79 is the 39th member.
Related: Earth is threatened by ‘invisible’ asteroids lurking near Venus
These objects are difficult to spot because their faint light is drowned out by the overwhelming glare of the Sun. This new space rock is only the second known object whose orbit lies entirely within the orbit of Venus. It also crosses the orbit of Mercury and completes one orbit of the Sun in just 128 days.
It has the third shortest orbital period of all asteroids, with the two fastest both having an orbital period of only 115 days. For comparison, Mercury’s orbital period is only 88 days.
Carnegie Science astronomer Scott S. Sheppard discovered the asteroid on September 27 with the Dark Energy Camera on the National Science Foundation’s 4-meter Blanco Telescope. This telescope is looking for killer asteroids, and 2025 SC79 certainly qualifies. 2025 SC79 is approximately 700 meters (2,300 feet) in diameter.
Although small compared to the Chicxulub impactor that killed the dinosaurs, this asteroid of this size would still create a catastrophic impact on a continental scale. Depending on where it lands, it could kill billions of people and animals.
The observation was then confirmed with two other telescopes: the NSF Gemini telescope and that of Carnegie Science. Magellan telescopes.
“The most dangerous asteroids are the hardest to detect,” Sheppard explained in a statement. press release. “Most asteroid research finds these objects in the dark of night, where they are easier to spot. But asteroids lurking near the Sun can only be observed at dusk, when the Sun is about to rise or set. If these ‘twilight’ asteroids approach Earth, they could pose serious impact risks.”
There is much more to learn about the 2025 SC79 but that will have to wait. It has been disappearing behind the Sun for several months. Once it reappears, astronomers will examine it for more detailed information. Its composition is an important question, since it survives exposure to the intense heat of the Sun.
Other observations could also shed light on the asteroid’s origins. It may have been dislodged from the main asteroid belt somehow and then captured by the Sun.
“Many asteroids in the Solar System inhabit one of two belts of space rocks, but disruptions can send objects into closer orbits where they may be harder to spot,” Sheppard concluded.
“Understanding how they got to these places can help us protect our planet and also learn more about the history of the solar system.”
This article was originally published by Universe Today. Read the original article.
