Harvard Astronomers Mistake Tesla Roadster for a Near-Earth Asteroid

[Social Media]

 

Astronomers affiliated with Harvard University recently announced what seemed to be the discovery of a new asteroid dangerously close to Earth. However, the excitement turned to embarrassment when they realized the so-called asteroid was actually a Tesla sports car that Elon Musk launched into space as part of a publicity stunt seven years ago.  

There is now a Tesla Roadster in space and you can watch live views from it here and SUCK IT FLAT EARTHERS
not that I care what you fools think anyway but still suck ithttps://t.co/ohf1YlFUVU pic.twitter.com/BUFct7J0QM

— Jason Major (@JPMajor) February 6, 2018

 

The Minor Planet Center, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, officially registered the object as a new space rock on January 2. According to *Astronomy* magazine, the object was identified roughly 150,000 miles from Earth, closer than the moon. Given its proximity, astronomers initially flagged it as a potential risk to Earth and assigned it the name “2018 CN41.”  

 

Just 17 hours later, the discovery was revoked. The astronomers learned that the object was not a newly identified asteroid but Musk’s cherry-red Tesla Roadster. The car had been launched into space in February 2018 during a SpaceX test of the Falcon Heavy rocket. For added flair, the stunt included a mannequin in a white spacesuit sitting behind the wheel of the electric vehicle, which was sent into orbit as part of Musk’s audacious and unconventional demonstration of SpaceX’s capabilities.  

 

On January 3, the Minor Planet Center officially removed “2018 CN41” from its records, acknowledging the misidentification.  

 

The error highlighted a broader issue in the field of astronomy: the increasing challenge posed by untracked objects in space. Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, expressed concern over the implications of such incidents. “Objects like Musk’s car could hinder astronomers’ ability to protect the Earth from potentially hazardous asteroids,” McDowell told *Astronomy*.  

 

McDowell warned of the risks associated with mistakenly identifying such objects. “Worst case, you spend a billion launching a space probe to study an asteroid and only realize it’s not an asteroid when you get there,” he said.  

 

The bizarre mix-up serves as a reminder of the complexities of modern space observation, as well as the growing clutter of artificial objects in the cosmos. While Musk’s Roadster may not be a threat to Earth, its confusion with an asteroid underscores the challenges scientists face in distinguishing genuine celestial dangers from man-made debris.

 

Based on a report by NYP 2025-01-28

 

 

[impulse]

Follow the science.  They're never wrong.

 

 

 

[phetphet]

They have certainly got their work cut out tracking all the objucts orbiting the Earth:

 

 

 

[CallumWK]

In other news today.

Two astronauts have died in orbit, because their spaceship collided with a Tesla roadstar, some 150.000 miles from planet Earth.

Investigations about who caused the accident are ongoing

[WDSmart]

Yes Musk should be charged with a crime for this. It's an obvious case of blatant pollution. If he threw the car into the ocean, he would be charged, right? Well, why not if he throws it into space? Lock him up! 😡

[Dionigi]

On 1/28/2025 at 8:31 AM, impulse said:

Follow the science.  They're never wrong.

 

 

 

But will admit it when they are.

[Skeptic7]

On 1/28/2025 at 8:31 AM, impulse said:

Follow the science.  They're never wrong.

 

 

 

Complete and total ignorance and BS comment. That is the best of what science is about...being challenged, open to new and better explanations/evidence, admitting mistakes and accepting and going with the new info. Science provides the best explanation at the present time...never claiming 💯 % certainty and always open to being challenged and accepting new evidence which leads to more accuracy. Try learning what the scientific method actually is rather than spouting off utter nonsense. 

[impulse]

17 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

Complete and total ignorance and BS comment. That is the best of what science is about...being challenged, open to new and better explanations/evidence, admitting mistakes and accepting and going with the new info. Science provides the best explanation at the present time...never claiming 💯 % certainty and always open to being challenged and accepting new evidence which leads to more accuracy. Try learning what the scientific method actually is rather than spouting off utter nonsense. 

 

Yup.  You caught me.  I made a flippant comment about an amusing but trivial subject.

 

But a smarter scientist would have done the whole 17 hours of diligence before publishing.

 

[Yagoda]

They do a lot of climate change research at Harvard too.

[mrwebb8825]

The trajectory of the roadster has been on file for 7 years. Don't they have an observatory? Maybe upgrade the telescope to 1 that can actually see objects clearly? Jumping to conclusions for the sake of notoriety then trying to blame Musk for their screwup. Shameful for the Scientific world.

[Will B Good]

13 hours ago, Dionigi said:

But will admit it when they are.

 

Exactly!

[Will B Good]

 

The first ever swasticar to be seen in space.