New space telescope finds 2,100 asteroids even before official launch

A giant new telescope in Chile called the Vera C. Rubin Observatory has already found over 2,100 new asteroids, before it’s even officially started working. Built to scan the night sky again and again, this powerful telescope is expected to find millions of unknown space objects and could even help protect Earth from dangerous asteroids, as mentioned in the reports.

Some of these asteroids have tails like comets, which is rare. It may even spot interstellar objects, space rocks from outside our solar system, as stated by New York Times.

Why is this important for Earth?

Dangerous asteroids, on their way towards a collision with earth , can be tracked by it. Though usually in the Mars Jupiter belt, over the years asteroids have moved closer to earth. Though the life- ending asteroids that heralded the end of life on earth during the Dinosaur era are still far off, smaller ones are nearer than scientists know.


It might even find Planet Nine, a mystery planet scientists think might exist far away. It will rewrite what we know about our solar system, kind of like updating the space science textbook. Some people joke that the observatory might catch alien spaceships, but scientists don’t really believe that, as per the report by the New York Times.

Who was Vera C. Rubin?

Vera Rubin who lived from 1928 to 2016, was a U.S. astronomer who proved dark matter exists. She found that stars on galaxy edges moved way faster than expected, which means there’s invisible stuff pulling on them, according to Gulf News.

She worked during an era when only few women were accepted in science, and because of which she became the biggest role model for many. The observatory is named in her honor to recognize both her groundbreaking scientific work and her remarkable courage.

FAQs

Q1. What is the Vera Rubin Observatory and what did it discover?
The Vera Rubin Observatory is a new telescope in Chile that has already discovered over 2,100 new asteroids before its official launch.

Q2. Why is the Vera Rubin Observatory important for Earth?
It helps find hidden or dangerous asteroids that could come near Earth and may also discover Planet Nine or interstellar objects.