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Astronomers have reportedly discovered Asteroid the size of a skyscraper moving through our solar system at almost record speed.
The asteroid, named 2025 SC79, orbits the Sun every 128 days, making it the second fastest known asteroid to orbit the Sun.
It was first observed by Carnegie Science astronomer Scott S. Sheppard on Sept. 27, according to a statement from Carnegie Science.
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In September, a skyscraper-sized asteroid called 2025 SC79 was discovered hidden in sunlight. (Carnegie Science)
The statement said the asteroid is the second known object to orbit inside Venus. It crosses the orbit of Mercury during its 128-day journey around the Sun.
“Many solar system asteroids live in one of the two space rock belts, but disturbances can send objects into closer orbits where they are harder to detect,” Sheppard said. “Understanding how they arrived in these places can help us protect our planet, as well as learn more about the history of the solar system.”
The celestial body is now moving behind the Sun and will be invisible to telescopes for several months.
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Sheppard's search for so-called “twilight” asteroids helps identify objects that may pose a risk of impact with Earth, the statement said.
The work, partially funded by NASA, uses Dark Energy Chamber on the National Science Foundation's 4-meter Blanco Telescope to search bright sunlight for “planet-killer” asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth.
NSF's Gemini telescope and Carnegie Science's Magellan telescopes were used to confirm the observation of 2025 SC79, Carnegie Science reports.
The fastest known asteroid was also discovered by Sheppard, who studies solar system objects including moons, dwarf planets and asteroids. and his colleagues in 2021.
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It takes 133 days to orbit the Sun.
