Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Space
Video charts number of known asteroids since 1980
Incredible timelapse video artfully depicts discoveries.
INFORMATION FROM THE ASTEROID Orbital Elements Database has been used to create an incredible video charting every asteroid discovered since 1980.
Figures representing the year, and the number of asteroids discovered, clock up on the left hand corner of the screen.
Automated sky scanning technology made a serious impact on the level of known asteroids. The number of asteroids discovered between 1980 and 1990 almost doubled from 8,954 to over 14,500, according to the database.
The final colour of the asteroids indicates how closely they came to the inner solar system.
The first asteroid ever discovered was ‘Ceres’, which was spotted by Giuseppe Piazzi on New Year’s Day, 1801. Ceres is also the largest ever discovered.
(video via szyzyg on YouTube)
have your say