RCA employee discovers two new asteroids

Muscat: An employee of the Royal Court Affairs Astronomical Observatory discovered two asteroids located in the asteroid belt of the solar system. The discovery was officially recognized and won certificates from the International Astronomical Research Collaboration (IASC) initiative which is sponsored by NASA.

Abdullah bin Mohammed al Haji analyzed images captured by the Pan-STARRS 2 telescope at the Haleakala Observatory in Hawaii, USA. The telescope is equipped with an astronomical camera fitted with one of the largest digital astronomical sensors available. Al Haji used the Astromitrica software, required for such discoveries, to analyze the images. He analyzed four images of the same location in the sky taken sequentially.

After the images were analyzed and studied by the organization, the discovery of the two asteroids, 2024 WH61 and 2024 WP61, has been confirmed. Al Haji received initial discovery certificates for the two asteroids. They will retain these codes for several years until they are thoroughly observed to accurately determine their orbits. Afterward, each asteroid will be given a permanent name, and the discoverer will be officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union, which will then request that he name the two asteroids.

Al Haji stated that he made the discovery while taking part in observations conducted at international observatories as part of a public project involving members of astronomical organizations and institutions as well as school and university students. The project aims to promote astronomy and support astronomers to make astronomical contributions.

He noted that the observatories provide up to 20 sets of images per month, after which the observation report is sent to the International Astronomical Research Cooperation (IASC) initiative for evaluation and to ensure that there is no match with previous discoveries.

He pointed out that the process of analyzing and verifying the discovery takes a long time to confirm the orbits, adding that the two asteroids were spotted in November 2024, but the verification process and recognition takes a long time and extensive studies. He said that he has 20 other discoveries registered as initial discoveries but they are still in the verification stage.