AnyTime News 
Indian team shines in global asteroid search competition
Discovery made among 700 teams and 8,000 citizen scientists worldwide
Team may get naming rights after scientific confirmation
Anytime News Network | Pooja Srivastava:
A young student scientist from Madhya Pradesh has achieved a remarkable milestone in the field of space research. Prakhar Vishwakarma, an engineering student at the Bansal Institute of Science and Technology, has successfully contributed to the discovery of a new asteroid named P12IB9xP during an international asteroid search campaign.
The global campaign was jointly organized by NASA and Hardin–Simmons University. The competition witnessed participation from more than 700 teams and nearly 8,000 citizen scientists from across the world. During the campaign, more than 15,000 potential detections were recorded. After rigorous scientific verification by NASA and the International Astronomical Union, only 21 detections were shortlisted as significant discoveries. The inclusion of the Indian team among these select discoveries is considered a major achievement.
The discovery was made by Team “Snow Star,” led by Roshni Sharma. The team included Prakhar Vishwakarma along with Padmakshi Saraswat, Rahul Sharma and Jasleen. The team worked for several weeks analyzing astronomical data.
High-resolution astronomical images captured by the powerful Pan-STARRS Telescope located in Hawaii, USA, were provided to the participants. Using the Astrometrica software, the team carefully analyzed these images to identify moving celestial objects that could potentially represent new asteroids.
According to Prakhar Vishwakarma, the discovery currently holds the status of an “initial detection.” Over the next three to four years, the object’s orbit and data will be closely examined by the International Astronomical Union to confirm its authenticity.
If the asteroid is officially confirmed and granted provisional status, the team may receive the rare honor of naming the celestial body. Statistically, only one or two discoveries out of nearly 10,000 detections reach this stage.
Faculty members and administrators at Bansal Institute have praised Prakhar’s achievement, calling it a proud moment for the institute and for India’s growing presence in global space research.
