
Omani discovers near-Earth object, has privilege to name it
Muscat – In a landmark achievement for Oman's scientific community, Khalfan bin Hamad al Malki, a chemistry teacher, has become the first member of Oman Society of Astronomy and Space (OSAS) to make a preliminary detection of a near-Earth object.
The asteroid has been officially recorded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Malki now has the rare privilege of naming it within a week. He is considering either a family name or a tribute to Oman.
Temporarily designated by NASA as P226gRJ , the asteroid marks the first such detection by an Omani citizen involved in the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) project.
Malki made the discovery on February 5 after analysing time-lapse images of the sky distributed by IASC, a global initiative that enables citizen scientists to assist in detection of near-Earth objects.
Asteroids like P226gRJ are remnants from the early formation of the solar system, typically found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. While most remain in stable orbits far from Earth, those that venture closer, particularly between Earth and the Moon, are monitored closely as potential threats.
Global space agencies, including NASA, increasingly rely on contributions from citizen scientists to help detect these objects. Once identified, experts assess factors such as size, speed, trajectory and potential risk.
Malki's discovery highlights both Oman's growing role in global space research and the importance of collaborative efforts in expanding man's understanding of the cosmos.
'This discovery has brought me immense happiness,' Malki said. 'I did not expect to find an asteroid and pinpoint its coordinates. I am grateful for this opportunity and thank Abdul Wahab al Busaidi and Ghaida al Jabri for their support in this project. God willing, discoveries will continue with the help of OSAS.'
Busaidi, a board member of OSAS, called the discovery a significant milestone. 'This achievement encourages greater citizen participation in space research. With more eyes on the sky, the world continues to deepen its understanding of the universe.'
Malki's discovery not only marks a personal triumph but also reflects the increasing contributions of Middle Eastern researchers to global space exploration efforts.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Observer
an hour ago
- Observer
Oman calls for international cooperation in science
The Sultanate of Oman is participating in the 2nd Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange held in the People's Republic of China. The Omani delegation is headed by Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. In her speech at the conference, Dr Rahma emphasised the importance of international cooperation in science and technology, praising the Belt and Road Initiative's role in strengthening scientific and research partnerships among participating nations. She also highlighted Oman Vision 2040 and its key pillars, which align with the objectives of the Science and Technology Exchange Initiative under the Belt and Road framework. She noted Oman's key achievements since its first participation in the initiative, including the signing of an MoU on science and technology cooperation. This has led to several collaborative programmes between Omani and Chinese universities, such as knowledge exchange in 'smart campuses,' enhanced scientific cooperation with Chinese private sector institutions — particularly global company Huawei — as well as student and researcher exchanges; and cultural cooperation through Chinese language education and Arabic teaching for non-native speakers. On the sidelines of the event, the Minister held talks with Lin Xin, Vice Minister of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, exploring ways to enhance scientific and technical exchange in priority research areas such as environmental sciences, food security, medicine, health sciences (including traditional medicine) and artificial intelligence. Discussions also covered expertise exchange in marine and ocean sciences, genetic resources and mutual invitations to scientific conferences, including the upcoming Arab-Chinese Conference scheduled in August 2025. Additionally, they reviewed cooperation in cultural exchange, teaching each country's language in higher education institutions and increasing mutual recognition of academic credentials. During her visit to Sichuan University in Chengdu, the Minister explored potential collaboration in scientific and research programmes, particularly in creative arts. She also discussed partnership opportunities between Omani private higher education institutions and the Chinese university, including joint exhibitions, young researcher training, bilateral research projects, cultural student events and cooperation in AI, IoT and modern technologies. — ONA


Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Times of Oman
NASA, ISRO to launch private mission to space with Indian pilot on June 10
Washington DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Saturday (local time)said that as part of a collaboration with ISRO, Axiom Mission 4 will be launched on June 10, the fourth private astronaut mission from Axiom Space, which will be piloted by Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla. Axiom Mission 4 delivers on a commitment highlighted by US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the first ISRO astronaut to the station. The space agencies are participating in five joint science investigations and two in-orbit science, technology, engineering, and mathematics demonstrations. NASA and ISRO have a long-standing relationship built on a shared vision to advance scientific knowledge and expand space collaboration, a statement by NASA said. NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are targeting 8:22 am (local time), Tuesday, June 10, for launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4. The mission will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew will travel to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the company's Falcon 9 rocket. The targeted docking time is approximately 12:30pm, Wednesday (local time), June 11, as per NASA. NASA's mission responsibility is for integrated operations, which begins during the spacecraft's approach to the space station, continues during the crew's approximately two-week stay aboard the orbiting laboratory while conducting science, education, and commercial activities, and concludes once the spacecraft exits the station. Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The private mission also carries the first astronauts from Poland and Hungary to stay aboard the space station. In a post on X, the International Space Station said, "Axiom Mission 4, the fourth private astronaut mission from Axiom Space, is targeted to launch at 8:22am ET, Tuesday, June 10, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center to the orbital outpost."


Observer
4 days ago
- Observer
Trump-Musk showdown threatens US space plans
WASHINGTON: SpaceX's rockets ferry US astronauts to the International Space Station. Its Starlink satellite constellation blankets the globe with broadband, and the company is embedded in some of the Pentagon's most sensitive projects, including tracking hypersonic missiles. So when President Donald Trump threatened to cancel Elon Musk's federal contracts, space watchers snapped to attention. Musk, the world's richest person, shot back that he would mothball Dragon — the capsule NASA relies on for crew flights — before retracting the threat a few hours later. For now, experts say mutual dependence should keep a full-blown rupture at bay, but the episode exposes just how disruptive any break could be. Founded in 2002, SpaceX leapfrogged legacy contractors to become the world's dominant launch provider. Driven by Musk's ambition to make humanity multi-planetary, it is now NASA's sole means of sending astronauts to the ISS — a symbol of post-Cold War cooperation and a testbed for deeper space missions. The company has completed 10 regular crew rotations to the orbiting lab and is contracted for four more, under a deal worth nearly $5 billion. — AFP