In an extraordinary achievement, Daksh Malik, a 14-year-old Class 9 student from Shiv Nadar School, Noida, is set to name an asteroid he discovered in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Currently known as 2023 OG40, this discovery is part of a NASA citizen science initiative, marking a significant milestone in amateur astronomy.
How Did Daksh Discover the Asteroid?
- Daksh participated in the International Asteroid Discovery Project (IADP), under the mentorship of Dr. Patrick Miller from Hardin Simmons University.
- The IADP, a collaboration involving NASA’s Citizen Science Project, International Astronomy Search Collaboration (IASC), and Pan-STARRS, allows students and enthusiasts worldwide to search for undiscovered celestial objects using real astronomical data.
- Daksh’s school astronomy club introduced the project in 2022, sparking his year-long effort alongside two classmates.
Participants in the project analyzed images from the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii, which specializes in detecting asteroids and Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). Daksh succeeded after submitting six preliminary detections, earning the “Provisional Discovery of a Main Belt Asteroid” status.
The Journey to Naming the Asteroid
Daksh has expressed immense gratitude for the support from his school’s observatory and astronomy programmes, which nurtured his passion for space exploration.
While Daksh hasn’t finalized the asteroid’s name, his choices include:
- Destroyer of the World
- Countdown
However, naming an asteroid involves several verification steps:
- Preliminary Detection Confirmation: NASA observes the object multiple times to confirm its classification as an asteroid.
- Provisional Status: The Minor Planet Centre (MPC) assigns a temporary name (e.g., 2023 OG40) until full verification.
- Global Cataloguing: The International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially records the asteroid in its database before the discoverer can name it.
This process can take 4–5 years before Daksh gets to see his chosen name in the global astronomical records.
Significance and Inspiration
Daksh joins a prestigious group, as only five other Indian students have discovered asteroids to date. Reflecting on his journey, Daksh shared:
“This journey has inspired me to reach for the stars—literally and figuratively—and I hope it encourages others to pursue their passions fearlessly.”
His achievement not only highlights the power of citizen science but also serves as a beacon of inspiration for young minds to explore and innovate in STEM fields.
Daksh’s story is a testament to the boundless possibilities when curiosity meets opportunity, proving that even the stars are within reach.
Leave a Reply