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Astronomers discover skyscraper-size asteroid hidden in sun's glare — and it's moving at a near-record pace | Live Science
The newly discovered "twilight" asteroid, 2025 SC79, was obscured by the sun's glare until an astronomer pointed the Dark Energy Camera at it, highlighting the potential dangers of unseen asteroids.
Readers Questions Answered
What is the designation of the newly discovered asteroid mentioned in the article?
The asteroid is designated 2025 SC79 and is described in the report as a twilight asteroid, a body discovered while near the sun’s glare. This naming underscores the unusual conditions under which it was detected and the challenges astronomers face in finding such objects.
How was the asteroid obscured before discovery?
Before it was found, the asteroid remained hidden behind the sun’s glare, making it effectively invisible to most telescopes. Only when an astronomer directed the Dark Energy Camera toward a region near the sun was the object revealed, highlighting how glare can hide potentially hazardous bodies from routine observations.
Which instrument helped discover the asteroid?
The discovery was enabled by the Dark Energy Camera, a powerful instrument used by astronomers to survey the sky. By pointing this camera at a region obscured by sunlight, researchers captured data that led to identifying the new object now classified as 2025 SC79.
How is the asteroid described in terms of size and speed?
It is described as skyscraper-size and moving at a near-record pace for asteroids, illustrating the combination of large size and unusually high velocity that makes it noteworthy. The description also underscores how such bodies can elude detection until specialized observations near the sun reveal them.
What broader implication does the discovery suggest?
The report notes that the discovery highlights the potential dangers of unseen asteroids lurking in the sun's glare. By showing that a massive object can be hidden close to the Sun and still be moving rapidly, it stresses the importance of advancing detection techniques and sustained monitoring to identify such bodies before they become a risk.
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