02-28-2020, 05:03 PM
Earth's new mini-moon
A small object is currently orbiting the Earth and astronomers are call it a "mini-moon". However, its orbit suggests it will soon leave Earth orbit and be ejected into the solar system.
The Gemini telescope on Mauna Kea recently had a chance to observe the small object as reported here:
https://www.nationalastro.org/news/gemin...-in-color/
"Astronomers using the international Gemini Observatory, on Hawaii’s Maunakea, have imaged a very small object in orbit around the Earth, thought to be only a few meters across. According to Grigori Fedorets, the lead astronomer for the observations, the object could be a rare natural rocky object, or it could be something humans put into space decades ago — essentially space debris. “Either way this is a very compelling object and needs more data to determine what it is,” said Fedorets."
Unfortunately, UKIRT is currently in wide-field mode and there isn't much we can add to the research. If we'd been in our other mode, Cassegrain, then we would have been observing this with Michelle, a 10-25 micron imaging spectrometer which we have used in the past to observe and characterize orbital debris (among other things). One thing we probably would have been able to determine quickly is whether the object was a small asteroid or orbital debris based on how it warmed and cooled as it orbited the Earth. However, hopefully other telescopes will eventually be able to get the relevant data and astronomers will be able to figure out what it is.
A small object is currently orbiting the Earth and astronomers are call it a "mini-moon". However, its orbit suggests it will soon leave Earth orbit and be ejected into the solar system.
The Gemini telescope on Mauna Kea recently had a chance to observe the small object as reported here:
https://www.nationalastro.org/news/gemin...-in-color/
"Astronomers using the international Gemini Observatory, on Hawaii’s Maunakea, have imaged a very small object in orbit around the Earth, thought to be only a few meters across. According to Grigori Fedorets, the lead astronomer for the observations, the object could be a rare natural rocky object, or it could be something humans put into space decades ago — essentially space debris. “Either way this is a very compelling object and needs more data to determine what it is,” said Fedorets."
Unfortunately, UKIRT is currently in wide-field mode and there isn't much we can add to the research. If we'd been in our other mode, Cassegrain, then we would have been observing this with Michelle, a 10-25 micron imaging spectrometer which we have used in the past to observe and characterize orbital debris (among other things). One thing we probably would have been able to determine quickly is whether the object was a small asteroid or orbital debris based on how it warmed and cooled as it orbited the Earth. However, hopefully other telescopes will eventually be able to get the relevant data and astronomers will be able to figure out what it is.