On January 23, 2025, astronomer H. A. Güler mistakenly identified a near-Earth object, initially designated as asteroid 2018 CN41, which was believed to be on a collision course with Earth. The object was found to be traveling at a distance of 240,000 kilometers from Earth, prompting excitement in the astronomical community.
However, less than 17 hours after its discovery, the Minor Planet Center (MPC) retracted its classification, revealing that 2018 CN41 was actually the Tesla Roadster launched into space by SpaceX in February 2018. The car, equipped with a mannequin named Starman, was intended as a dummy payload for the Falcon Heavy's maiden flight.
This incident underscores the challenges faced by astronomers in tracking and identifying objects in deep space. While the U.S. Space Force monitors low Earth orbit objects, there remains a significant lack of transparency and regulation for those beyond this range. Experts have called for improved oversight to prevent future misidentifications, which could lead to wasted resources in space missions.