Hyderabad siblings discover two main-belt asteroids

Hyderabad: Driven by their curiosity in astronomy, two young brothers from the city have discovered two main-belt asteroids. Morapaka Abhiram and Morapaka Vishwaksena studying in 7th and 4th grades respectively at Ravindra Bharathi School in Nizampet here have discovered these two main-belt asteroids which were named as 2021 GB34 and 2021 GG166. According to the […]

Hyderabad: Driven by their curiosity in astronomy, two young brothers from the city have discovered two main-belt asteroids.

Morapaka Abhiram and Morapaka Vishwaksena studying in 7th and 4th grades respectively at Ravindra Bharathi School in Nizampet here have discovered these two main-belt asteroids which were named as 2021 GB34 and 2021 GG166.

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According to the students, the asteroids were recognised and certified by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), US, International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC), US and Pan STARRS-Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, US.

The duo has been participating in the campaigns of the IASC every month. The asteroids were discovered and reported in April this year as part of the campaign and after thorough scrutiny, the two brothers got recognition for their discovery a few days back. The students could make it with guidance from Spaceport India.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Abhiram said as part of the IASC monthly campaigns, data and images were provided to them. “The images were converted into animation with software. Later, using the parameters given to us by the IASC we could find two main-belt asteroids in the images and reported the same in April. After scrutiny, we got recognition and certification for the discovery,” he says.

Abhiram who was elated about the discovery said he wants to establish a SpaceX-like company in the country.

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