Asteroids

'Once-in-a-millennium' asteroid flyby will be visible to much of the world in 2029

By Sharmila Kuthunur Published 6 July 26

Ninety percent of the world's population could glimpse asteroid Apophis during its once-in-a-millennium close approach to Earth in 2029.

Japanese probe set for super-close flyby on July 5: 'We're going to discover another beast to put in the zoo of asteroids'

By Andrew Jones Published 28 June 26

Having already delivered samples of the asteroid Ryugu to Earth, Hayabusa2 will soon attempt one of the closest, riskiest space-rock flybys in spaceflight history.

3 billion years old! This Australian crater is the oldest known asteroid impact site on Earth

By Kiona N. Smith Published 25 June 26

"While the site had previously been identified as an ancient impact crater, its exact age remained uncertain."

Late, great singer-songwriter Elliott Smith finds immortality as an asteroid

By Chelsea Gohd Published 20 June 26

An asteroid has been named after Smith, who died in 2003 at the age of 34.

Juicy new details emerge about an asteroid NASA's Lucy spacecraft flew by last year

By Keith Cooper Published 19 June 26

Evidence of chemical alteration by liquid water has been found on the asteroid Donaldjohanson, which formed further from the sun before being shoved inwards.

The asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs may have created a vast underground habitat for life that lasted 8 million years

By Samantha Mathewson Published 10 June 26

The asteroid impact that triggered the extinction of the dinosaurs may also have created one of Earth's most enduring habitats for life.

Watch an asteroid the size of a blue whale hurtle towards Earth live online TODAY

By Anthony Wood Last updated 18 May 26

The livestream will begin at 3:45 p.m. EDT on May 18, bringing near real time views of the asteroid from robotic telescopes in Italy, weather permitting.

Does Dante's Inferno from the 14th century depict an asteroid impact?

By Keith Cooper Published 11 May 26

Dante's description of the fall of Lucifer to Earth from heaven seems to sport many of the hallmarks of an impact, forming a multi-ringed crater with a central peak.

Famous asteroid Ryugu may have been bombarded by a swarm of tiny space rocks 1,000 years ago

By Robert Lea Published 24 April 26

Samples of Ryugu returned to Earth by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft show that the asteroid bears the scars of a recent bombardment by tiny space rocks.

'God of Chaos' asteroid Apophis will blaze across the sky on April 13, 2029 — here's why this once-in-a-lifetime event is worth traveling for

By Jamie Carter Published 13 April 26

A rare stargazing spectacle will unfold on Friday, April 13, 2029, as the asteroid Apophis passes closer than satellites over Europe and Africa in a true once-in-a-lifetime event.