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Astronomers briefly thought Elon Musk's car was an asteroid. Here's why that points to a broader problem

The article discusses an incident where astronomers initially mistook Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster, launched into space in 2018, for an asteroid due to its unexpected trajectory and brightness. This confusion highlights a broader issue in the field of astronomy: the increasing difficulty in distinguishing between natural celestial bodies and human-made objects in space. The Tesla, part of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy test flight, was not only a unique object in space but also demonstrated how space debris and satellites can complicate astronomical observations. The article points out that with the growing number of satellites and space missions, astronomers face challenges in tracking and identifying objects, potentially leading to misidentifications and the need for more sophisticated tracking systems. This situation underscores the need for better space traffic management and enhanced observational techniques to differentiate between natural and artificial objects in our increasingly crowded near-Earth space environment.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/space-exploration/astronomers-briefly-thought-elon-musk-s-car-was-an-asteroid-here-s-why-that-points-to-a-broader-problem/ar-AA1yBrEn ]