14-year-old Noida student discovers Asteroid, set to name it after NASA's recognition

Daksh Malik, a 14-year-old student from Shiv Nadar School in Noida, has made a notable contribution to space exploration by discovering an asteroid. The asteroid, currently named "2023 OG40" based on its year of discovery, was identified under the International Asteroid Discovery Project (IADP), a collaboration between the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) and NASA. After completing a verification process expected to last up to five years, Malik will be given the opportunity to choose a permanent name for the asteroid.

Malik’s interest in astronomy and space science began at an early age. He was introduced to the concept of asteroid discovery through his school’s astronomy club, which in 2022 shared information about the IASC’s citizen science program. The IASC offers students and space enthusiasts worldwide the opportunity to participate in asteroid discovery by analyzing astronomical data. Malik, along with two of his friends, joined the program and worked on identifying potential asteroids from data sets provided by IASC.

To identify an asteroid, participants like Malik download and calibrate IASC datasets using specialized software, such as Astronomica. They then examine the data for moving objects that emit light within the range characteristic of asteroids. The discovery of "2023 OG40" was the result of these efforts. Once an object is detected and classified as a potential asteroid, the findings are submitted for NASA’s review and further analysis.

NASA’s role in the process involves running extensive verification tests to confirm the object’s identity as an asteroid. These tests may take several years to complete. Only after this confirmation will the asteroid be given a permanent name. As part of the IASC program, successful participants are allowed to choose a name for the asteroid once it is verified. Malik has already thought of possible names, including "Destroyer of the World" and "Countdown," but the final choice will depend on the verification outcome.

The IADP and IASC initiatives are part of NASA’s broader efforts to engage the global community in space research and provide educational opportunities related to astronomy. Each year, thousands of participants from around the world take part in these programs, with only a select few successfully identifying and naming asteroids. Malik is one of the few students from India to achieve this milestone, joining the ranks of previous participants who have contributed to NASA’s asteroid discovery efforts.