12-year-old finds 2 new asteroids during NASA citizen science project
Siddharth Patel, a 12-year-old from London, Ontario, spotted two potential asteroids—2024 RX69 and 2024 RH39—in September while participating as part of a citizen science program that partners with NASA, specifically the International Astronomical Search Collaboration.
His finds are now provisionally cataloged with the Minor Planet Center, which tracks space rocks from around the world.
Asteroids are located in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter
Patel analyzed telescope images from Hawaii and Arizona, something anyone can try through the project.
He's been into astronomy since he was five, learning on his own after school because there aren't many space classes nearby.
The asteroids he found are way out in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter, so you can't see them without special equipment.
It can take years to confirm an asteroid's orbit, but Patel's discoveries are already making waves.
Patel is also training with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets
Besides asteroid hunting, Patel is training with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets and dreams of becoming an astronaut like Jeremy Hansen or Chris Hadfield.
This project is helping him get a head start on his big goals in space exploration.