Asteroids
Latest about Asteroids
Asteroid Ryugu is rich in organic molecules that can be building blocks of life
By Robert Lea published
A first look at samples returned by the Hayabusa2 craft from the asteroid Ryugu has revealed it is rich in organic molecules like amino acids that are the building blocks of life.
Oddly shaped asteroid once considered an impact risk for Earth races past the planet
By Robert Lea published
An asteroid larger than the Empire State Building that was once considered an impact risk of Earth raced past the planet in February and astronomers managed to take a proper look at it.
Meet Dinkinesh: Asteroid targeted by NASA's Lucy spacecraft gets a marvelous name
By Robert Lea published
The asteroid that NASA's Lucy craft will visit in Nov 2023 has finally been given a name, Dinkinesh, meaning "you are marvelous" in Amharic.
Big asteroid to zoom by Earth on Wednesday
By Mike Wall published
A sizable asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth in four centuries on Wednesday evening (Feb. 15), but there's nothing to fear.
Meet the 10 asteroids NASA's Lucy spacecraft will visit
By Doris Elin Urrutia last updated
The Lucy mission launched on Oct. 16, 2021, to study the unique Trojan asteroids, which orbit ahead of and behind the planet Jupiter.
Grounded spacecraft look for new space rocks to visit, including notorious asteroid Apophis
By Meghan Bartels published
Scientists are working hard to try to salvage a pair of spacecraft that lost their launch — and the solution might include the most notorious asteroid out there, Apophis.
Rubble-pile asteroids are 'giant space cushions' that live forever
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
New research found that the rubble-pile asteroid Itokawa can survive collisions for 10 times longer than its conventional, single-body counterparts.
Space mining startups see a rich future on asteroids and the moon
By Leonard David published
Space mining has matured to the point where there are dozens of startup companies planning to begin harvesting valuable resources from space.
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