2005 VL1 is not Venera-2

2025/03/11 by Jonathan McDowell, McDowell, Jonathan · 2 voices
#astro-ph.EP

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2503.07972

Abstract

The solar system object 2005 VL1 passed close to Earth in late 1965. It has been suggested that it is actually the space probe Venera-2. However, a comparison of the orbits presented in this note demonstrates that the proposed association is incorrect.

Discussions

• In a short RNAAS note now on arxiv, arxiv.org/abs/2503.07972 I discuss in more detail the suggestion of Loeb and Cloete that 'dark comet' 2005 VL1 is actually the old Venera-2 space probe. (It's not. [bsky, 37 points, 0 comments]
• When Certain Harvard Astronomer starts to meddle with spaceflight stuff and actual Harvard (SAO) extraordinaire Jonathan McDowell calmly sets the record straight. Love it! arxiv.org/abs/2503.07972 [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]

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