A asteroid hitting Earth and end humanity, as the theories say happened with the dinosaurs 66 million years ago, is one of the greatest fears of science.
This is why we constantly find information detailing the trajectory of the rocks that surround the Solar System and approach our planet. Preventing this catastrophe is the main objective, before knowing the most distant places in the universe.
In this sense the POT has taken a historic step. The impact of the space mission dart changed the course of the asteroid Dimorphoswhich orbits another larger rock called Didymos.
The milestone for science makes us immediately wonder what comes next: Are we ready to deflect any threat? Several points have to be made clear in order to answer this question, but it is, without a doubt, a gigantic step for astronomy.
The change in the asteroid after the DART impact
According to the information published by NASA, reviewed on the portal Unam Globalbefore the DART impact, Dimorphos took 11 hours and 55 minutes to make a complete revolution of Didymos.
Now, after the crash of the space probe, the full orbital course changed to 11 hours and 23 minutes. The change is colossal. NASA hoped to only shave 73 seconds off the translation process.
In other words, in figures they exceeded their expectations about 25 times. It is the first time in our history that science is capable of moving the trajectory of a celestial body. Therefore, before going to shoot against any of the possible threats, more checks are needed.
Taking into account the majority of ground-based observatories, the POT It will measure from all points of view the trajectory of Dimorphos on Didymos during the next 4 years.
Three telescopes in Chile, the Swope Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory; Danish Telescope at La Silla Observatory Y Las Cumbres Global Observatory facilities of the network of telescopes in the southern territory, collaborated with data from the first measurements.