4 ms·
> In Rubin’s first year alone, scientists expect the observatory to find 1 million undiscovered asteroids — as many as have been documented in the previous 200
by boxed 4mo ago
> In Rubin’s first year alone, scientists expect the observatory to find 1 million undiscovered asteroids — as many as have been documented in the previous 200 years of human history — as well as thousands of comets and billions of stars and galaxies.
Why stop at 200 years? It's also 300 years and 400 years, or 4 billion years :P
- thrownthatway 4mo agoWhen did old mate first point a telescope in to the night sky?
- embedding-shape 4mo agoPurely guessing based on knowing Galileo eventually did so, maybe around 400 years ago?
- deleted 4mo ago[deleted]
- SiempreViernes 4mo agoThe first asteroid was discovered in 1801, so going back 300 years and doing the count is pointless.
- dredmorbius 4mo agoThe term "asteroid" itself was coined in 1802, probably by William Herschel: <https://www.etymonline.com/word/asteroid https://www.etymonline.com/word/asteroid>. There not having been a need for it before.