Astronomers Discover Fast-Moving Asteroid Hidden in Sunlight, Revealing a Critical Weakness in Planetary Defense
WASHINGTON D.C. – Astronomers have identified aโ newโค asteroid, designated 2025 โSC79, lurking within the glare of the Sun, a finding that underscores a significant challengeโ inโฃ tracking perhapsโ hazardous space rocks.โ the asteroid, confirmedโข by observations from the Gemini and Magellan telescopes following โฃits initial sighting in September by the Blanco 4-meter Telescope’s Dark Energy Camera, isโ especiallyโ noteworthy for itsโค rapid orbit and โขsize.
The newly discovered asteroid completes an orbit around the Sun in just โข128 days,making it the second-fastest โคasteroid everโฃ identified. it measures approximatelyโค 2,300 feet (700 meters) inโ diameterโฃ – โnearly twice the height ofโฃ the Empireโค State Buildingโข – classifying it as a “planet โขkiller” โasteroid,โฃ a type astronomer Scott Sheppard of Carnegie Scienceโข has been actively searching for.
The difficulty in โdetecting 2025 SC79 stems from its location. “Theโ mostโข risky asteroids are โขthe most challenging โto detect,” Sheppard explainedโค in a Carnegie Science release. โUnlike most โasteroids visible in the โขdark โฃnight sky, this one resides โคin a region where it’s โonly observable during twilight, obscured byโค the Sun’s brightness.
Thisโค “twilight” zone presents โฃa unique obstacle to planetary defense efforts. “Asteroids lurking near the Sunโฆare only visible at twilight,” Sheppard stated.While astronomers routinely trackโ many asteroids to assess potentialโ Earth impact โrisks, these sun-grazingโข objects โpose โa โฃ”serious impact hazard” if โtheir orbits bring themโ close to our planet.
The discovery highlights the needโ for improved detection strategies. Many asteroids reside within the asteroid belts, but gravitationalโ disturbancesโฃ canโ alter their paths,โ sending them into orbits that are harder to observe.โ Sheppard emphasizes that understandingโค how these asteroids arrive in theseโ challenging locations is crucial,โ stating, “Understandingโค how they arrived at these locations can help us protect our planet โand โฃalso help us learn moreโ about โSolar System history.”
Further study of 2025 SC79’s composition may yield โvaluable insights into โidentifying similar, potentially dangerous โasteroids hidden in the Sun’s glare.
