Omani Teacher Makes Preliminary Detection of Near-Earth Asteroid, NASA Confirms

Khalfan bin Hamad al Malki, an Omani chemistry teacher and member of the Oman Society of Astronomy and Space (OSAS), has made a preliminary detection of a near-Earth object, officially recorded by NASA as P226gRJ. Malki, participating in the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) project, analyzed time-lapse images to make the discovery on February 5. He now has the option to name the asteroid.

Asteroids like P226gRJ are remnants from the early solar system, typically found between Mars and Jupiter. While most remain in stable orbits, those that approach Earth are closely monitored. NASA and other space agencies rely on citizen scientists to help detect these objects, assessing their size, speed, and trajectory.

Malki's discovery underscores Oman's increasing involvement in space research and the value of collaborative efforts in understanding the cosmos. Abdul Wahab al Busaidi, a board member of OSAS, hailed the discovery as a significant milestone, encouraging further citizen participation in space research.