Over 27,500 previously unnoticed asteroids near Earth identified. Were they a threat?

New Delhi, India

Asteroids are thought to have been the cause of demise of the mighty dinosaurs, and many theories suggest they would probably be the reason for humanity's downfall too. However, a groundbreaking algorithm has helped asteroid hunters identify a whopping 27,500 overlooked near-Earth objects, make or break information that could potentially help us avoid the doom.

The THOR-like technology

Known as Tracklet-less Heliocentric Orbit Recovery (THOR), the technology is revolutionising the way astronomers detect near-Earth asteroids, potentially enhancing our planetary defence capabilities. 

THOR, which was developed by researchers at the University of Washington and the Asteroid Institute, THOR employs a novel approach by sifting through archival space photographs to identify celestial bodies.

Using the vast digital archives of the National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab), which contains millions of space images, and the help of Google Cloud technology, THOR processed the images in just five weeks, demonstrating its efficiency and scalability.

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This innovative method has led to the identification of the over 27,500 previously unnoticed near-Earth objects. This, as per the New York Post, surpasses the total number discovered by all global telescopes last year. 

Among these are 100 asteroids that traverse within Earth's orbit, with the majority located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

As per the New York Post, while none of the identified objects were on collision course with earth, this proves vital data that could one day prevent potential cosmic threats.

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'Sea change' in how astronomical research can be conducted

Unlike traditional observation techniques that track objects across multiple images over time, THOR connects isolated points of light from different images, inferring that they represent the same object. This approach, and the results as per Ed Lu, executive director of the Asteroid Institute, represent "a sea change" in how astronomical research can be conducted. 

As Matthew Holman, dynamicist and search algorithm expert at the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard & Smithsonian in Cambridge, Massachusetts, said in a 2022 press release, a comprehensive map of the solar system can give "astronomers critical insights both for science and planetary defence."

(With inputs from agencies)