Tag

Asteroids

All articles tagged with #asteroids

space8 days ago•7 min saved

Undetected City-Killer Asteroids Threaten Cities, NASA Warns

NASA experts warn that thousands of mid-sized near-Earth asteroids (roughly 140 meters and larger) could strike regional cities, but most remain undetected; scientists estimate up to 25,000 such objects exist near Earth, with only about 40% identified so far, highlighting gaps in detection and defense, despite progress like the Near-Earth Object Surveyor telescope and lessons from the DART mission, with experts urging more funding and planning to prevent regional catastrophes.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#asteroids #astronomy #near-earth-objects

space27 days ago•6 min saved

China Ramps Up Space Mining Drive with Robotic Miner and Helium-3 Prospects

China is accelerating its space-resource program, aiming to survey and extract materials from asteroids and other minor bodies. Researchers are developing a six-legged, wheel-and-claw robot capable of operating in microgravity, with energy storage leveraging local resources, as part of a broader plan to tap metals and helium-3. The Tianwen-2 mission, launched in 2025, will sample near-Earth asteroid 2016 HO3 and study a main-belt comet to lay groundwork for future mining.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#asteroids #helium-3 #robotics

science1 month ago•4 min saved

Vera Rubin Observatory Detects Fastest-Spinning, Record-Breaking Asteroid

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.

via ScienceAlert|

#asteroids #main-belt #rotation

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Vera Rubin Observatory Detects Fastest-Spinning and Largest Asteroid Yet

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.

via Space|

#2025-mn45 #asteroids #fastest-spinning-asteroid

science3 months ago•4 min saved

Gaia Unravels the Asteroid Spin Enigma

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.

via SciTechDaily|

#asteroids #cosmic-collisions #gaia-mission

science4 months ago•6 min saved

Organic Molecules and Life's Building Blocks Found in Deep Space

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.

via Earth.com|

#asteroids #comets #organic-molecules

science4 months ago•5 min saved

Young Astronomer Discovers Two Potential New Asteroids

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.

via Space|

#asteroids #canadian-astronaut #citizen-science

science4 months ago•5 min saved

Understanding Asteroid Spins to Prevent Earth Collisions

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.

via Space|

#asteroids #gaia-mission #impact-mitigation

science4 months ago•4 min saved

Hidden Asteroids Near Venus Pose Long-Term Threat to Earth

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.

via Energy Reporters|

#asteroids #earth-impact #planetary-defense

science4 months ago•3 min saved

Hidden Asteroids Near Venus Pose Potential Threat to Earth

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.

via Space|

#asteroids #earth #planetary-defense

science5 months ago•4 min saved

Invisible Asteroids Near Venus Pose Potential Threat to Earth

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.

via ScienceAlert|

#asteroids #earth #planetary-defense

science5 months ago•4 min saved

Invisible Asteroids Near Venus Pose Hidden Threats to Earth

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.

via Rude Baguette|

#asteroids #coorbital #earth

science5 months ago•2 min saved

Hidden Asteroids Near Venus Pose Potential Threats to Earth

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.

via Gizmodo|

#asteroids #nasa #planetary-defense

science5 months ago•2 min saved

Airplane-Sized Asteroid to Pass Close to Earth Tomorrow

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.

via New York Post|

#asteroids #earth #nasa

science6 months ago•4 min saved

Webb Telescope Suggests Asteroids Bennu and Ryugu Are Siblings

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.

via Live Science|

#asteroids #bennu #james-webb-telescope