Bal Bharati students discover rare asteroid

The asteroids that have been discovered are a rare kind,which circumvent the orbit of Jupiter,called Trojans. Mila Mitra,scientific officer,Science Popularistaion Association of Communicators and Educator (SPACE) said,“The discovery of the Trojan has been confirmed by Dr Patrick Miller. These are very rare and this is what makes the discovery so important.”

As part of an annual,one-and-half month project,students are sent images of space every three days from the Minor Planets Centre to see if they can identify any changes using a software called Astronomica. One set of these images is what led to the discovery.

An elated Pragya said,“When we are sent these images,we have to look for tiny changes in positions of satellites and other objects. On June 7,we identified the movement of this asteroid,and reported it to the Minor Planets Centre. Twenty days later,we received confirmation that this was a preliminary discovery.” A preliminary discovery relates to an asteroid formation which has not been noticed before.

Her friend Aparajita added,“Identification (of celestial objects) is more difficult than it sounds. The movements as seen on the images is tiny that you have to pour over them for two to three hours daily and then crosscheck continously before you can be sure. Discovering an asteroid is an unbelievable feeling.”

What is even more exhilarating to the two science students is the opportunity to name the asteroid.

Mitra of SPACE explained the asteroid naming formality saying,“Once the asteroid is closely observed,the students will be given the privilege of naming the asteroids in two to six years time.”