Indian students discover 18 new asteroids

Indian students have discovered 18 new asteroids under the International Asteroid Discovery Project, the International Astronomical Union (AIU), responsible for naming and designating celestial bodies, has confirmed.

STEM and Space, an astronomy and space science education organisation in India, had organised the global science project along with National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC). The two-month long expedition was attended by around 150 students from across the country, who analysed IASC’s high-quality astronomical data to discover asteroids and near-earth objects (NEO).

STEM and Space co-founder Mila Mitra said the project was initiated to ensure citizen scientists and students discover and track planetary objects. Students used advanced software and spent two to three hours a day to analyse the data, look for asteroids and report their findings, she said.