A Tesla Roadster was mistakenly identified as an asteroid by an amateur astronomer earlier this month, according to the Minor Planet Center at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The vehicle, which was launched into orbit in 2018 aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, was later confirmed to be a car belonging to Elon Musk.
The mistake occurred after the object, initially announced as asteroid 2018 CN41, was deleted from the Minor Planet Center’s list due to a lack of confirmation. However, further investigation revealed that it was indeed a Tesla Roadster, which has been traveling through space since its launch in 2018.
Space expert Marco Langbroek had warned earlier that the object’s orbit could be difficult to predict, and that it was possible it would be mistaken for an asteroid. Musk had previously announced that the Roadster would travel to space, sparking interest among astronomers.
The incident has raised concerns about transparency in space activities. The American Astronomical Society has called for open and transparent reporting of space missions, citing the importance of promoting space situational awareness and reducing interference between missions.
Separately, a fireball caused by a falling Starlink internet satellite was spotted streaking across the US night sky earlier this week. According to Jonathan McDowell, a scientist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, the satellite had been steadily falling from orbit since December 6, 2024, and was widely observed from neighboring regions, including Chicago.
The incident highlights the importance of accurate identification and reporting in space activities, as well as the need for transparency to prevent such mistakes in the future.
Source: https://nationalpost.com/news/space/tesla-roadster-mistaken-asteroid-starlink-fireball