Astronomers from the University of São Paulo have identified a group of asteroids moving around the orbit of the planet Venus that are almost invisible in modern telescopes. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
According to information published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, these asteroids are called “Venus co-orbital asteroids.” They move along an uncertain trajectory around the planet and can become hazardous to Earth every 12,000 years.
Scientists believe that such objects located in orbits close to the Sun pose the greatest risk because they are very difficult to observe with telescopes. The study’s author, Valerio Carruba, emphasized that the asteroid has a diameter of 300 meters, can create a crater up to 4.5 kilometers wide, and release hundreds of megatons of energy.
If such an object were to fall into a populated area, the consequences would be very serious. Moreover, even the most advanced observatories can only observe such asteroids for one or two weeks per year.
For this reason, scientists propose launching special space telescopes to better monitor the space around the Sun. These studies are considered crucial for ensuring the safety of our planet.
