Space can be full of surprises, even for seasoned astronomers. In January, a team of observers using an Italian telescope mistakenly identified what they thought was a newly discovered asteroid.
The object, named 2018 CN41, was quickly cataloged by the Minor Planet Center, which tracks asteroids and comets.
But just two days later, the mistake was revealed—the supposed asteroid was actually a cherry-red Tesla Roadster, famously launched into space by SpaceX in 2018.
Categorized as Asteroid
The electric sports car, with a mannequin named Starman in the driver's seat, was sent into orbit aboard the maiden flight of the Falcon Heavy rocket.
The launch was part of a demonstration mission to prove the capabilities of SpaceX's heavy-lift vehicle.
Instead of using traditional test cargo like concrete or steel blocks, Elon Musk chose his personal Tesla Roadster to make the mission more memorable.
The car has been drifting through space ever since, following an elliptical orbit around the Sun that occasionally brings it near Earth’s vicinity.
The mistaken identity occurred when astronomers spotted the car using ground-based observations and submitted their findings to the Minor Planet Center.
The object's motion and brightness seemed to match the characteristics of an asteroid, leading it to be temporarily classified as a celestial body.
Shortly after, astronomers realized their error, according to Boosted.
A follow-up statement confirmed that 2018 CN41’s trajectory was an exact match for an artificial object already known as 2018-017A, the Tesla Roadster and its attached Falcon Heavy upper stage.
The confusion was understandable, as the Tesla is now covered in space dust and lacks the reflective properties it had when first launched. It appears much like any other small body in space, leading to the mix-up.
The Minor Planet Center swiftly removed the asteroid designation and updated its records.
The Roadster continues its cosmic journey, drifting through space with no set destination.
