Small asteroid ‘serendipitously’ detected using James Webb telescope

European astronomers utilizing the James Webb House Telescope have detected a beforehand unknown asteroid concerning the measurement of Rome’s Colosseum in the principle asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

The asteroid measuring between 300 and 650 ft (100 to 200 meters) in size is the smallest object noticed thus far utilizing the telescope, the US space company NASA mentioned Monday.

The European astronomers “serendipitously detected” the asteroid, NASA mentioned in a press release, including that extra observations can be wanted to higher characterize its nature and properties.

“We—utterly unexpectedly—detected a small asteroid,” mentioned Thomas Muller, an astronomer on the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany.

It was detected throughout calibration of the telescope’s Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI), which operates in mid-infrared wavelengths.

“Webb’s unbelievable sensitivity made it doable to see this roughly 100-meter object at a distance of greater than 100 million kilometers,” Muller mentioned.

Webb, which has been operational since July, is probably the most highly effective space telescope ever constructed and has unleashed a raft of unprecedented information in addition to gorgeous photos.

One of many major objectives for the $10 billion telescope is to check the life cycle of stars. One other major analysis focus is on exoplanets, planets outdoors Earth’s solar system.

Webb was not designed to search for small objects such because the newly-discovered asteroid, however Muller mentioned its discovery “means that many new objects will likely be detected with this instrument.”

© 2023 AFP