Asteroids
Latest about Asteroids
![three small satellites in space around an asteroid](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cQkSSVKeSBTaYVeaoBG3v6-320-80.jpg)
This tiny probe the size of your cell phone could measure asteroid gravity in a space 1st
By Josh Dinner published
The European Space Agency (ESA) has designed a tiny mobile phone-sized probe that could become the world's first to measure the gravity on the surface of an asteroid.
![An artist's illustration of asteroids headed toward Earth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7FfT5Rxe7SaMQhkxN44H9Y-320-80.jpg)
Earth is safe from a devastating asteroid impact for 1,000 years (probably)
By Robert Lea published
Earth probably won't get hit by an asteroid at least 0.6 miles (1 kilometers) wide in the next 1,000 years, a new study finds.
![Asteroid Phaethon emitting its sodium tail as it passes the sun](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A97ujVfW7NeUpvU2ifqNf8-320-80.jpg)
The strange mystery of asteroid Phaethon's comet-like tail may have just been solved
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers observing the strange "rock comet" hybrid Phaethon as it passed the sun have found a surprise that could upend 14 years of thinking about the weird asteroid.
![Telescope images of Neptune's rare red asteroids taken with taken with the Palomar 200-inch, Gemini and Keck telescopes](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/a5JCazRtrn3aCQXKfvzDoi-320-80.jpg)
Rare red asteroids around Neptune could reveal the secrets of the early solar system
By Joanna Thompson published
Scientists have observed that some of Neptune's Trojan asteroids are deep red, possibly revealing what asteroids may have been like in the early days of the solar system.
![Our blue planet: Three-quarters of Earth's surface is covered by water.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cKZnLxSL62dA9s95KhQCne-320-80.jpeg)
No asteroid impacts needed: Newborn Earth made its own water, study suggests
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Contrary to a popular theory that icy comets or asteroids delivered water to a dry newborn Earth, the planet itself may have produced its earliest water supply, a new study suggests.
![The newfound space rock 2023 FW13 has an orbit that keeps it as a constant companion of Earth, like that of 2016 HO3, which is shown here.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3j8f9QCpf2acEQGzdpstKD-320-80.jpg)
Earth has a new 'quasi-moon' after discovery of newfound asteroid 2023 FW13
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A newfound asteroid called 2023 FW13 has been Earth's companion for centuries, astronomers say.
![An illustration of a large rocky asteroid moving through space as the blue Earth sits in the distance](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KSS2te28e4yLCXzGAPanek-320-80.jpg)
'Potentially hazardous' skyscraper-size asteroid will zip past Earth on April 6
By Brandon Specktor published
The potentially hazardous asteroid 2023 FM is larger than a 40-story building and will zoom within 7.5 lunar distances from Earth on Thursday, April 6, according to NASA.
![An illustration of an asteroid striking Earth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iTUpUyK8rYRkQizLZpTZZ8-320-80.jpg)
This is what would happen if scientists found an asteroid heading to Earth
By Robert Lea published
To illustrate the importance of planetary defense NASA scientists have devised an exercise that shows the potential devastation that could be caused by a hypothetical asteroid strike.
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