Tesla Roadster Mistaken for Asteroid: A Cosmic Mix-Up

Elon Musk’s sense of humor truly knows no bounds, especially when it comes to his groundbreaking ventures in space exploration.

In a twist that blends humor with a hint of cosmic confusion, astronomers from the Minor Planet Center at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics recently mistook Musk’s Tesla Roadster for an asteroid. This incident occurred seven years after SpaceX launched the vehicle into orbit.

Discovery of 2018 CN41

On January 2, 2023, astronomers registered the object designated as 2018 CN41. However, within a day, they retracted the classification, confirming that the object was, in fact, Musk’s famous Tesla Roadster.

The Minor Planet Center stated on its website that the object’s registry was canceled after they determined that its orbit matched that of an artificial object, specifically 2018-017A, which includes the Falcon Heavy upper stage used in the launch.

The center noted, “The designation 2018 CN41 is being deleted and will be listed as omitted.” This highlights the often complex relationship between natural celestial bodies and human-made objects in orbit.

The Launch of the Tesla Roadster

In February 2018, SpaceX successfully launched the Tesla Roadster as part of the maiden flight of its Falcon Heavy rocket. The vehicle was intended to enter an elliptical orbit around the sun, extending slightly beyond Mars before returning toward Earth. However, in a surprising turn, it appears to have ventured past Mars and into the asteroid belt.

While the roadster was mistaken for an asteroid earlier this month, it was noted to be less than 150,000 miles from Earth, well within the moon’s orbit. This proximity raises significant concerns for astronomers, who will likely monitor its movement closely.

Potential Risks and Monitoring

The implications of such misidentifications can be significant. Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics (CfA), commented on the situation. He warned about the potential dangers associated with untracked objects in our solar system.

“Worst case, you spend a billion launching a space probe to study an asteroid and only realize it’s not an asteroid when you get there,” McDowell pointed out, highlighting the need for careful tracking of objects in space.

Conclusion

The mix-up between the Tesla Roadster and an asteroid showcases the challenges faced by astronomers in distinguishing between natural celestial bodies and human-made objects. As we continue to explore space, such incidents underscore the importance of accurate tracking and monitoring.

As of now, Fox News Digital has reached out to SpaceX for further comments on this amusing yet enlightening astronomical occurrence.