An Amateur Astronomer Seemingly Spotted a New Asteroid. It Turned Out to Be a Tesla in Space
At the beginning of the year, scientists at the Minor Planet Center at the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard and Smithsonian, logged the discovery of an asteroid identified by an amateur astronomer. Within a day,
Asteroid? Nope, It’s Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster Cruising Through Space
Less than 24 hours after the Minor Planet Center announced a new asteroid, it said the object was actually Musk's electric car launched into space as payload on a rocket.
Astronomers just deleted an asteroid because it turned out to be Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster
The case of mistaken identity was quickly resolved, but astronomers say it shows the need for transparency around craft in deep space.
Asteroid or Artifact? How a Tesla Roadster Caused a Cosmic Misidentification
Avi Loeb shares the story of how a Tesla Roadster had some astronomers convinced for a time that they had discovered a new asteroid.
Space object or sports car? How a Tesla Roadster was briefly mistaken for an asteroid
What an amateur astronomer recently took to be a newly-discovered asteroid turned out to be a Tesla Roadster voyaging through the cosmos.
‘New asteroid’ turns out to be Tesla car shot to space in 2018
The rocket launched into orbit on February 6, 2018, as part of a publicity stunt while the Falcon Heavy was being tested. Musk’s old car was fitted with a mannequin wearing a white spacesuit sitting in the driver’s seat named Starman.
Astronomers are furious with Elon Musk: «space» Tesla Roadster misidentified as asteroid 2018 CN41
On January 2, the Minor Planet Center announced the discovery of the unique asteroid 2018 CN41, but soon had to remove the object from the official li
Newly discovered asteroid turns out to be Tesla Roadster launched into space
Astronomers mistook a Tesla Roadster that was launched into orbit in 2018 for an asteroid earlier this month. The registry of what was thought to be an asteroid was soon deleted.
Astronomers red-faced after mistaking Musk's Tesla Roadster for asteroid
Scientists mistook Elon Musk's Tesla roadster for an asteroid in a debacle that highlights the problem of tracking near-Earth objects.
Mystery asteroid revealed: It’s Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster cruising through space
Musk launched his personal Tesla Roadster into space on February 6, 2018, as a test payload for the Falcon Heavy rocket.
Strange new asteroid turns out to be Tesla Roadster
A strange object recently spotted orbiting Earth has been identified as a Tesla Roadster. Initially classified as asteroid "2018 CN41" by the Minor Planet Center (MPC) on January 2, 2025, the object was discovered by an amateur astronomer based in Turkey.
Newly discovered ‘asteroid’ near Earth turns out to be Elon Musk’s car
Newly discovered ‘asteroid’ near Earth turns out to be Elon Musk’s car - Cherry-red Tesla Roadster was launched in 2018 ...
Mystery 'asteroid' in Earth's orbit is something completely different – and it's Musk's fault
Major astronomy body the Minor Planet Centre (MPC) was forced to list the discovery - made by a citizen scientist - as ...