Even though it was already known that the asteroid (130) Elektra has two months left in its orbit, a third month was discovered in data obtained by a very big telescope operated by the European Southern Observatory in Chile. Anthony Berdeu of the National Institute of Astronomical Research of Thailand devised a new method for data processing, which he then applied to Elektra's 2014 observation data to produce a new look at the data.

Berdeu's work established the existence of two previously known moons and paved the way for the identification of a third, paler moon that is no longer obscured by the luster of the main asteroid's surface. Bernadette Berdeu is the lead author of a study that was published in the scientific journal Astronomy Astrophysics just a few days ago.

It is located in the main asteroid belt of the solar system, between Mars and Jupiter, and its peculiar character has piqued the interest of a number of scientific researchers.

According to a statement from the European Southern Observatory, the discovery will aid astronomers in their understanding of how these satellites originate and, in turn, will provide critical information on the formation of planets and the evolution of the solar system.

Even if the Elektra asteroid system may be the first of its sort to be discovered, it is most likely not the only one of its kind. Other asteroids could be discovered using Berdeu's approach of data analysis, which could lead to a kind of treasure hunt for other asteroids concealed in the telescope's archived data, according to Berdeu.