Webb Telescope Unveils Record-Breaking Small Asteroids in Main Belt

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified the smallest asteroids ever seen in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter, including a 33-foot-wide asteroid. This discovery, made by analyzing data originally intended for exoplanet research, allows for more precise tracking of small asteroids, which are potential threats to Earth. The team identified 138 previously undiscovered small asteroids, highlighting a new population regime formed through collisions. This advancement in detection is crucial for planetary defense.