The asteroid, subsequently named Nida, was first detected by scientists on May 5, 2010. The discovery was made at the Baldone Observatory in Latvia using the 80/120 cm Schmidt telescope. At the time of its initial observation, the celestial object registered a magnitude of approximately 21 and was situated within the constellation of Virgo.
The initial observations were conducted while monitoring the sky low above the southern horizon. Due to unfavorable weather conditions, follow-up observations on the subsequent night were not possible. This created a period where researchers feared the object might have become unobservable.
The object was successfully photographed again on May 10. Significantly, after a gap in direct observation, the object was finally captured and confirmed nearly two months later, specifically on July 9. The confirmation came from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), a NASA infrared space telescope equipped with a 0.4 m diameter instrument designed for surveying asteroids in the infrared spectrum.
The confirmation by WISE provided crucial data regarding the orbit and existence of the asteroid. This multi-stage detection process highlights the challenges inherent in deep-sky object tracking. The initial sighting established the object’s presence, but the subsequent confirmation using advanced infrared technology was necessary to solidify the data and formally cement the object’s designation as Nida.
Topics: #asteroid #named #nida
