2021 PH27 Closest Object to the Sun

The video introduces 2021PH27, the closest object to the Sun, surpassing Mercury. Discovered by Scott Shepherd in Chile using the Dark Energy Survey, it has an apparent magnitude of 19. The video explains apparent magnitude and details 2021PH27's orbit, which is closer to the Sun than Mercury at perihelion and farther than Venus at aphelion. It has the shortest orbital period among asteroids, taking 113 days to orbit the Sun. With a diameter over 1 km, it is smaller than Mercury. The video concludes by encouraging viewers to study astronomy.

What is the estimated size of 2021PH27 compared to Mercury?

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What role do astronomers play in the discovery of celestial objects like 2021PH27?

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