Asteroids

Latest about 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
Visualization of the trajectory and impact of asteroid 2024 BX1.

Asteroid that exploded over Berlin was fastest-spinning space rock ever recorded

By Sascha Pare published

Scientists have calculated the rotational speed of asteroid 2024 BX1, which exploded over Berlin earlier this year, by letting it trail in images of the sky. It turns out, 2024 BX1 was spinning faster than any other near-Earth object ever seen.

Asteroids
an illustration of the solar system showing two rocks flying close by earth

Watch 2 bus-size asteroids make close flybys of Earth this week (video)

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Two asteroids are expected to make close but safe approaches to Earth this week, and you can watch them live.

Asteroids
three grey space rocks in the blackness of space. the largest is alone on the left; the smaller two are on the right, touching one another

Curious asteroid Selam, spotted by NASA's Lucy spacecraft, is a cosmic toddler

By Rahul Rao published

NASA's Lucy spacecraft serendipitously found a small moonlet orbiting the mission's asteroid target Dinkinesh. Scientists named it Selam, and have now learned that Selam is a cosmic toddler.

Asteroids
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