Kimmo 76,586 Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 The newly identified object, now known as Volantis, was very faint when it was discovered, at only about magnitude 20. (The lower the magnitude, the brighter the object.) That faintness stretches the capabilities of Catalina and is beyond what most amateurs can see in their telescopes. (Since then, the object has faded to magnitude 23, making it visible only to the largest professional telescopes.) Information from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center, which keeps observation records for all known asteroids, shows that Volantis doesn't match the precise orbit of any known human-made object, Kacper Wierzchos, a senior research specialist for the Catalina Sky Survey and co-discoverer of Volantis, told Space.com. The Volantis orbit didn't display any perturbations resulting from solar radiation pressure coming from the sun; such wiggles are common for human-made satellites in Earth's orbit. But Wierzchos said he doesn't want to assume that Volantis is an asteroid quite yet. "The possibility it is artificial still exists, so I am trying to be cautious with every statement," he said. "I'd hate it to be artificial after [everyone is] making a fuss [about the discovery]." The NASA-funded Catalina program at the University of Arizona is an automated survey that scans the sky for fast-moving objects. On discovery night, Wierzchos and Catalina research specialist Theodore Pruyne happened to be at the telescope, Wierzchos said. On a good night, the survey can study around 40 near-Earth asteroids, which are typically objects astronomers already know about. But on October 25th something in Catalina's observations looked a little funny and didn't match anything known by astronomers. The duo submitted the discovery to the Minor Planet Center, and other astronomers soon confirmed the find. Hottie Detector Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LateToCult 36,278 Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 But who did she vote for? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
weed 66,751 Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 THAT is what Demi saw flying in the desert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chromatislaps 34,558 Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 We need a new Gaga music video Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quentin 3,766 Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 What? Follow every rainbow till you find your dream Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lego 44,165 Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 @VOLANTIS wyd? FreePalestine Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
River 90,453 Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 I saw the sign u open up my heart I saw the sign oh lelel volantis oh lele come to us volantis take us back to your planet when u touch us we die just a little inside we wonder if disco beloved Je ne parle pas français but I can padam if you like Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
VOLANTIS 16,007 Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 3 hours ago, lego said: @VOLANTIS wyd? Getting my ass the f*** out of here before those brainless idiots elect that orange thing TWICE. I suggest you all do the same, sisters. I'll lift you 3 inches off the ground and drag you to a meter and a half Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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