All articles tagged with #asteroids
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has discovered asteroids in the Main Belt spinning faster than the previously believed limit, suggesting they are much stronger and more cohesive than thought, which could reshape our understanding of asteroid structures and the history of the Solar System.
The Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile has discovered 19 superfast-spinning asteroids, including 2025 MN45, the largest asteroid known to spin this rapidly, completing a rotation every 1.88 minutes, which provides insights into its composition and structural integrity.
New data from ESA's Gaia mission reveals how collisions and internal friction influence asteroid spins, explaining why some tumble chaotically while others spin smoothly, with implications for understanding asteroid composition and planetary defense strategies.
Astronomers have found widespread organic molecules in space, including in comets, asteroids, and interstellar dust, suggesting that the ingredients for life were present in the early solar system and could have been delivered to Earth, influencing the emergence of life. This discovery highlights the deep space origins of life's building blocks but does not prove life began there.
A 12-year-old Canadian boy from Ontario, Siddharth Patel, has potentially discovered two new asteroids through a citizen science program in partnership with NASA, highlighting his passion for astronomy and his aspirations to become an astronaut.
Recent studies using Gaia data and advanced modeling have shed light on how asteroids spin and how to identify the safest impact sites for deflection missions, improving our ability to prevent catastrophic Earth impacts.
Scientists warn of undetectable co-orbital asteroids near Venus that could potentially strike Earth every 12,000 years, highlighting the need to rethink planetary defense strategies due to their elusive nature and sudden appearance risk.
A hidden population of Venus co-orbital asteroids, which are currently undetectable with existing telescopes, could pose a threat to Earth in a few thousand years by potentially crossing Earth's orbit, highlighting the need for space-based monitoring to improve detection and planetary defense strategies.
Scientists warn of a hidden population of potentially dangerous asteroids near Venus that are difficult to detect with current telescopes, posing a future risk to Earth, and suggest that space-based observatories near Venus could improve detection efforts.
A group of at least 20 coorbital asteroids near Venus, with chaotic and eccentric orbits, could pose a threat to Earth, prompting scientists to propose enhanced monitoring methods such as a telescope near Venus to better track these celestial bodies and assess potential risks.
Researchers warn of a hidden population of potentially dangerous asteroids sharing Venus's orbit that are difficult to detect with current technology, posing a possible threat to Earth with the potential to cause significant damage if they collide.
NASA warns of two close-passing asteroids tomorrow: 2025 QV5, a small 35-foot asteroid passing at 500,000 miles, and 2025 QD8, a 71-foot asteroid passing at 136,000 miles. Neither pose a threat to Earth, but both are of scientific interest, with the larger one making its closest approach in over a century.
New data from the James Webb Space Telescope suggests that the asteroids Bennu and Ryugu may both originate from a single ancient parent asteroid, Polana, shedding light on asteroid family formation and dispersal in our solar system.
New data from the James Webb Space Telescope suggests that asteroids Bennu and Ryugu may both originate from the same ancient parent asteroid, Polana, shedding light on asteroid family formation and dispersal in our solar system.
A recent study suggests that asteroids Bennu, Ryugu, and Polana may all originate from a single ancient collision, supported by spectral data from the James Webb Space Telescope indicating they share a common parent body, which could reshape our understanding of solar system formation.