Starry-eyed teen finds planet
2005-10-14 07:30
Warsaw - A second star-gazing Polish teen has discovered a small new planet, or planetoid, by analysing pictures from Arizona's Kitt Peak observatory posted on the internet, Poland's PAP news agency reported on Thursday.
Now identified as Near Earth Object (NEO) 2005 TD49, the planetoid was discovered by high school student Elzbieta Bogucka, 15, on telescope pictures posted on the Fast Moving Object Spacewatch (FMOS) website.
Astronomers in the US checked her tip and confirmed the discovery.
In September fellow-Polish high school student Piotr Bednarek, also 15, was recognised for finding NEO 2005 QK76 and belonging to the Apollo group of small planetary objects.
Bednarek also made the discovery while poring over pictures on the FMOS website.
Bogucka says she became a serious stargazer three years ago and wants to become an astronomer and already has her own website focused on Europe, a satellite of Jupiter.
Last year the first Pole, 25-year-old Mariusz Kurczewski, also found his own small planet - 2004 ST26 - using the FMOS site.
Planetoids, also known as asteroids or minor planets, are small celestial bodies that measure from a few to several hundred kilometres in diameter. - Sapa-dpa
- SAPA