CALIFORNIA, iNews.id – Astronomers have discovered asteroid fastest orbit in the Solar System. The asteroid orbits the Sun in 113 days, providing the shortest known orbital period for an asteroid.
2021 PH27 was recently discovered in twilight images taken by astronomers from Brown University. The astroid is about 1 km in diameter and has an unstable orbit.
Its orbit crosses the orbits of Mercury and Venus. Since it has an unstable orbit across the two planets in the Solar System, it is likely to collide with one of the planets or the Sun in the future. It can also be ejected from its current orbit.
Scientists go to great lengths to study asteroids to determine where they came from. They also learn more about the Solar System.
The current theory is that 2021 PH27 comes from the main asteroid belt orbiting between Jupiter and Mars. Astronomers believe the gravity generated by the planets in the inner Solar System shaped their orbits into what they see today.
Another interesting possibility that may occur due to the 32-degree tilt of 2021 PH27 is the possibility of the remains of an extinct comet originating from the outer solar system, as quoted from Slash Gears.
Editor: Dini Listiyani
