It was discovered by
Robert Weryk and
Richard Wainscoat of the
Pan-STARRS 1 survey at
Haleakala Observatory. The object was initially thought to be an
Encke-type comet because of its diffuse appearance, so it received the periodic comet designation P/2016 G1. After further analysis, what had initially appeared to be a comet's halo turned out to be rubble from a collision. By November 2019, analysis suggested the collision had occurred on 6 March 2016, and the asteroid was struck by a smaller object that may have massed only , and was traveling at . P/2016 G1's diameter was between and . The asteroid had completely disintegrated by 2017. Astronomers were able to use the asteroid's rubble to determine the date of the collision, since the dispersion of dust was inversely proportional to its size. == See also ==