New AI Algorithm Spots Huge Asteroid, 2022 SF289, Coming Closer to Earth Than the Moon

A cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm recently found a 600-foot-wide space rock flying through space.

This space rock is called 2022 SF289, and it is about as wide as almost two football fields lined up. Even more important, Space.com reports that it will come close to Earth, only about 140,000 miles away. That is closer than how far the moon is from us!

This computer program, called HelioLinc3D, is helping a giant telescope called the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. This telescope spends ten years looking at the sky at night to find any big pieces of space rocks.

Watching Over Space Rocks

The universe is teeming with millions of space rocks ranging from small asteroids to dwarf planets, relics of when the solar system took shape more than 4.5 billion years ago.

While many of these objects reside far from Earth, some venture into our neighborhood, often alarmingly close.

Experts tell us that these close encounters earn these asteroids the title of "near-Earth objects" (NEOs), with the designation of "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" (PHA) given to those that veer within approximately 5 million miles of our planet's orbit.

However, it is crucial to note that PHA classification does not equate to imminent impact. Instead, it prompts astronomers to monitor these asteroids to ensure our safety.

HelioLinc3D

The breakthrough achieved by HelioLinc3D is a significant leap in this cosmic watch. Conventional asteroid detection techniques involve capturing images of the sky multiple times a night and identifying moving points of light.

The new algorithm's prowess was tested using data from the ATLAS survey in Hawaii. On July 18, 2023, it triumphed, uncovering 2022 SF289 - an asteroid that had previously escaped notice due to its faint appearance and elusive trajectory.

HelioLinc3D's ability to merge fragments of data from different nights proved pivotal in this discovery, a capability current methods lacked.

A Safe Pass By

Rubin Observatory's imminent inauguration adds a new dimension to our vigilance against asteroids. With its colossal 27-foot-wide mirror and an impressive 3,200-megapixel camera, Rubin will surveil the night sky at an unprecedented pace. The observatory's enhanced capabilities will herald a new era of data-intensive astronomy.

While 2022 SF289 is designated a PHA due to its size and proximity, the consensus is that it poses no imminent threat. Projections suggest a clear trajectory that doesn't intersect with Earth's orbit for the foreseeable future.

Looking Ahead

The discovery of 2022 SF289 offers a mere glimpse into the wealth of celestial discoveries that lie ahead.

As Mario Jurić, leader of the HelioLinc3D team, emphasizes, this heralds the dawn of an era where algorithm advancements are as instrumental as new telescopes in unraveling the mysteries of the universe.

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