Astronomers mistake Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster for an Asteroid in a Cosmic Mix-Up
In a twist that could only come from the mind of Elon Musk, astronomers recently discovered what they believed to be a new asteroid orbiting closer to Earth than the moon—only to realise it was actually musk’s iconic Tesla Roadster, launched into space seven years ago.
On January 2, 2025, the Minor Planet Center (MPC), the International Astronomical Union’s office responsible for tracking small solar system objects, published data on the discovery of asteroid 2018 CN41. The object was reported to be approximately 240,000 kilometers from Earth, a distance closer than the moon’s orbit.
Turkish astronomer H. A. Guler used custom software to analyze the MPC database adn identified the mysterious object, which had been surveyed and photographed by various telescopes. The data was sent to the MPC,which initially classified it as a new asteroid. Tho,further scrutiny revealed a surprising truth.
The object’s trajectory matched the flight path of the Falcon Heavy rocket, SpaceX’s frist full-scale test launch on February 7, 2018. During this historic mission, the rocket carried Elon Musk’s cherry-red Tesla Roadster into space, with a dummy named “Starman” seated at the wheel.The car was intended to orbit the sun, but it seems to have taken a detour that caught astronomers off guard.
After careful analysis, the MPC confirmed on January 3, 2025, that the object was not an asteroid but rather the upper stage of the Falcon Heavy rocket, designated as object 2018-017A, which had been carrying the tesla Roadster. The car is now orbiting the sun in deep space and is expected to make another close approach to Earth in 2047, passing at a distance of about 5 million kilometers.
This cosmic mix-up highlights the challenges of tracking objects in space, especially when they are man-made. it also underscores the enduring legacy of Musk’s aspiring and often whimsical ventures.
Key Details at a Glance
| Detail | data |
|————————–|———————————————————————————|
| Object Discovered | Initially thought to be asteroid 2018 CN41, later identified as elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster |
| Discovery Date | January 2, 2025 |
| Closest Approach | Approximately 240,000 kilometers from earth |
| Launch Date | February 7, 2018 |
| Next Close Approach | 2047, at a distance of about 5 million kilometers |
This discovery serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of space exploration and the enduring fascination with Elon Musk’s boundary-pushing projects. As the Tesla Roadster continues its journey through the cosmos, it remains a symbol of human ingenuity—and perhaps a bit of cosmic humor.The provided text does not contain sufficient information to create a detailed, well-researched news article. it appears to be a fragment of HTML code with no substantive content or context. To craft a meaningful article, I would need access to the actual article or relevant information that includes facts, quotes, or data to work with. If you can provide the full article or additional details, I’d be happy to create a compelling news piece based on the guidelines you’ve outlined.The provided text does not contain any substantive information or content that can be used to create a news article. It appears to be a series of JavaScript code snippets related to Facebook tracking and SDK integration, which are not relevant for crafting a news story or blog post.
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