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Video Showing Half a Million Asteroid Discoveries

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the final-frontier dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Since 1980 over a half million asteroids have been discovered, mostly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, now thanks to this video you can see this activity condensed into a few minutes. At full resolution it's a mesmerizing experience as new discoveries are added and the video makes it possible to see patterns in the discovery positions, for example a large number appear in line between Earth and Jupiter as astronomers started looking for smaller jovian moons after Voyagers visit to the system."

4 of 154 comments (clear)

  1. Cpt Obvious Observation by smitty777 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It's interesting how the video highlights the fact that the bulk of the asteroids seem to be discovered in a direction of the earth's orbit opposite the sun. Seems obvious when you think about it, but it really becomes apparent from watching the vid.

    --
    "Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish"
    Albert Einstein
  2. What about the trojans? by blcss · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm wondering why I see no conspicuous clustering at the trojan points of Earth and Venus. Are asteroids there harder to detect?

    --
    We don't need yet another new programming language. Let's just pick an existing language and fix its flaws.
  3. Re:I see you! by natehoy · · Score: 2, Interesting

    One Sun to rule them all, One Sun to find them,
    One Sun to bring them all and with its gravity bind them
    In the Solar System where the asteroids fly.

    --
    "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
  4. Re:Some notes From The Creator by Jace+Harker · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I would love to see the original, full resolution video. Could you upload it somewhere, or perhaps put it up on BitTorrent?

    Also, what data sets did you use in the preparation of this movie? I would be interested to see the orbit specifications for all of these asteroids.