India’s Robotic Telescope in Ladakh Captures Close Encounter with High-Speed Asteroid
Image Source: Hindustan Times
In a remarkable display of India’s advancing capabilities in space observation, the GROWTH-India telescope, the nation’s first fully robotic optical research telescope, captured detailed images of a massive asteroid as it whizzed past Earth last Thursday.
The asteroid, designated as ‘2011 MW1’, made a close approach at a speed of 28,946 kilometres per hour, roughly ten times the distance from Earth to the Moon. This Near-Earth Asteroid’s rapid movement was documented by the high-tech facility located at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, Ladakh, an area known for its pristine skies.
Astrophysicist Varun Bhalerao, associated with the STAR lab at IIT Bombay, took to social media to share the groundbreaking image. The photograph shows the asteroid’s swift traverse against a backdrop of what appear as stationary stars, which due to the asteroid’s speed, look like mere flecks.
“This event not only demonstrates the high capability of the GROWTH-India telescope but also marks a significant milestone in India’s contributions to global efforts in monitoring Near Earth Objects (NEOs),” said Bhalerao. “Such observations are crucial for advancing our understanding of these celestial bodies and enhancing our preparedness for potential asteroid impacts.”
The GROWTH-India project is part of a larger international collaborative network that focuses on studying transient and variable cosmic events. The facility’s strategic location in Ladakh, coupled with India’s investment in state-of-the-art robotic technology, enables unparalleled observation opportunities.
This successful observation comes as a reassurance of the effectiveness of India’s growing infrastructure in space technology and its role in international astronomy. Scientists across the globe commend India’s efforts and anticipate more such contributions to global space research.
As India continues to push the frontiers of space exploration and observation, the successful tracking and documentation of asteroid 2011 MW1 are a testament to the country’s rising prowess in the field.
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