Amateur astronomer spotted the Tesla Roadster in space and what he saw caused a bit of panic
- An amateur astronomer thought they’d spotted something dangerous
- The amateur’s sighting caused panic among astronomers
- What they saw is a first in our solar system
Published on Mar 12, 2025 at 3:50 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Mar 12, 2025 at 4:46 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
An amateur astronomer spotted the Tesla Roadster that Elon Musk and SpaceX fired into space, which caused some panic.
The Tesla was launched into space aboard a SpaceX rocket in 2018 and has been orbiting the Earth ever since.
While it’s attached to the upper stage of a Falcon Heavy rocket, its proximity to the Earth caused concern among astronomers worldwide.
Thankfully, they were able to identify it and realize that our planet was not in immediate danger.
DISCOVER OUR SUPERCAR AUCTION SITE – View live auctions on SBX Cars
Musk launched the Roadster in 2018
The Roadster EV was launched into space in 2018 as part of a publicity stunt by the Tesla CEO.
It acted as a dummy payload for the rocket’s first test.
The car was actually Musk’s vehicle, and he even placed a mock SpaceX mannequin inside, wearing its own spacesuit.
Musk named the dummy ‘Starman,’ and the car’s sound system also blasts out David Bowie’s Space Oddity.
The problem is that with so many objects flying around the Earth, it’s been difficult for astronomers to keep track of everything that’s in orbit.
An amateur in Turkey had recently spotted the Roadster but mistook it for a new asteroid, which set off a few alarm bells.
The Tesla Roadster was spotted orbiting the sun
Astronomer at the Minor Planet Center, Peter Veres, explained to the Smithsonian Magazine how the Turkish astronomer had found the ‘asteroid.’
The hobbyist had cross-referenced it via a catalog of artificial satellites and the third-party software, Sat-id.
The Roadster didn’t appear in the database and was spotted orbiting the sun. So they assumed it was an asteroid, which then caught the attention of other astronomers.
Its proximity to the Earth also raised concerns that it was indeed an asteroid.
They felt it could be about to hit us and potentially do some damage.
Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer and astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics, identified the object as a Tesla and not a new asteroid.
The Turkish astronomer was naturally slightly embarrassed to have made a mistake.
But, to his credit, he was quick to raise his hands.
Less than 24 hours later, 2018 CN41, the ID the Roadster Asteroid had been given, was struck from the Minor Planet Center list.
For just under one whole day, Musk’s slightly cringey stunt actually had some form of purpose.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
