Events Asteroids
dark as asphalt, reflecting less than five percent of their light have been discovered new infrared telescope. The device identified 16 to 20 small planets previously unknown to mankind.
Some scientists suggest that the objects discovered may be former comets and do not pose a real threat to Earth. But where they came from is still a mystery.
The new infrared telescope, called WISE, is designed to search for objects close to our planet. NASA's lead researcher Amy Minzer said that this is only the first data on asteroids, so it's too early to say what they really are.
About half of the objects found reflect less than ten percent of sunlight, making them difficult and almost impossible to spot in the visible range of telescopes. WISE finds objects based on heat emissions.
The discovered asteroids have orbits inclined at a large angle. Scientist Richard Binzel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology believes that they are extinct comets whose ice surface has melted. Only orbital nuclei remain in the solar system. “It will be interesting to see what will happen to them in the future,” concluded the planetary scientist.
The WISE telescope will complete a full study of radiated objects within six months.