Asteroids

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A blue, white and green sphere next to an irregular grey orb followed by a white plume. The background is black and dark blue

China plans to deflect an asteroid by 2030 to showcase Earth protection skills

By Robert Lea published

China aims to launch its first planetary defense mission by 2030, to showcase the skills needed to nudge a dangerous asteroid away from Earth.

Asteroids
a rendered image of a man standing on the rocky grey surface of an asteroid, a space probe hovers in the distance behind him against a starry sky of space.

Jumping on an asteroid: How VR is being used to visit worlds we can never reach

By Jackson Ryan published

At the 2024 Astronomical Society of Australia's Annual Scientific Meeting, I got to walk on an asteroid in virtual reality. Here's what I found in Ryugu World.

Asteroids
a grainy image of the same space rocket shown from many different angles, presented in three rows of seven images, all against black space

2 asteroids just zipped by Earth, and NASA caught footage of the action

By Victoria Corless published

NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar has collected invaluable information about two asteroids that flew very close to Earth. Don't worry, neither posed a threat.

Asteroids
The Earth, moon and an asteroid's trajectories are seen in this gif.

It's International Asteroid Day, and astronomers have much to celebrate

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

"It's a fun day."

Asteroids
Two pieces of rocky material are seen with blueish areas highlighted.

Phosphate in NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample suggests space rock Bennu hails from an ocean world

By Victoria Corless published

NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission brought pieces of space rock Bennu to Earth in 2023. An analysis of these samples has revealed interesting data.

Asteroids
illustration of two asteroids in space, with earth in the background

When a dangerous asteroid threatens Earth, humanity will have to work together, NASA says

By Mike Wall published

Earth's oft-squabbling nations will need to set aside their differences, at least for a while, when a big, dangerous asteroid puts our planet in its crosshairs.

Asteroids
illustration of two asteroids in space, with earth in the background

NASA discussing asteroid-threat exercise today: Watch it live

By Mike Wall published

NASA will discuss the results of a recent asteroid-threat exercise today (June 20), and you can watch it live.

Asteroids
an explosion of rocks in space scatters debris throughout. The flashpoint can be seen central left, near a dense rock cluster. On the right, far away amongst the starry backdrop, a small yellow sun shines.

Where did Earth's water come from? This ancient asteroid family may help us find out

By Keith Cooper published

The family is part of a larger asteroid that was smashed to pieces 130 million years ago.

Asteroids
Still from an animation showing the close Earth flyby of the asteroid 2024 JN16 on May 14, 2024.

Car-size asteroid gives Earth a close shave in near-miss flyby (video, photo)

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

A car-sized asteroid flew very close to Earth on Tuesday morning (May 14), just two days after being discovered.

Asteroids
An illustration of Earth in space; a small-ish asteroid is toward the top right.

'God of Destruction' asteroid Apophis will come to Earth in 2029 — and it could meet some tiny spacecraft

By Robert Lea published

Asteroid Apophis is heading to Earth, and scientists have revealed three tiny spacecraft concepts that could race to meet the space rock in April 2029.

Asteroids
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