Asteroids

Asteroids are space rocks thought to be the remains left over from the formation of the solar system. They range in size from tiny (the size of a car or so) to truly giant, with at least one - Ceres - gaining dwarf planet status. In our solar system, billions of asteroids are in the asteroid belt, a region around the sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Others stray from this region, and can potentially post an impact threat to the Earth. At least one interstellar asteroid, called 'Oumuamua, has passed through our solar system. Learn more about asteroids here.

Related Topics: Comets, Meteors, Shooting Stars and Fireballs, Rosetta Spacecraft 

Latest Updates

a spacecraft zooms towards Earth

Will NASA's OSIRIS-REx stick its asteroid sample landing? Scientists are 'very much confident' as zero hour nears

By Brett Tingley published

Scientists with NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission are confident that the planned Sept. 24 asteroid sample landing will go as planned.

a sample space capsule parachuting to Earth in a test

NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return to Earth: Live updates

By Tariq Malik published

NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample-return mission will return pieces of asteroid Bennu to Earth on Sept. 24, 2023. Follow the historic landing live here.

a corner of an envelope bears a stamp depicting a cone-shaped capsule descending under a parachute

US Postal Service drops new OSIRIS-REx stamp ahead of asteroid sample return

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

NASA's first asteroid sample mission has landed at post offices two days before the spacecraft's return capsule is set to land on Earth. The USPS released a stamp celebrating the OSIRIS-REx probe.

a round capsule rests on the ground of hazy, dim desert.

What time is NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return capsule landing on Sept. 24?

By Josh Dinner published

NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is carrying the first ever asteroid samples recovered by the agency. Now, after a 1.2 billion-mile journey back to Earth, it's about to land.

black-and-white telescope photo of blurry, pixelated stars

Telescope spots NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe as it brings asteroid samples to Earth (photo)

By Mike Wall published

A ground-based telescope in the Canary Islands snapped a photo of NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe on Sept. 16, eight days before its asteroid sample lands on Earth.

a cone-shaped capsule flies through space just above Earth's atmosphere

NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return needs an awesome soundtrack. Here's how you can submit your favorite songs

By Samantha Mathewson published

NASA's first asteroid sample will return to Earth next week, and you can help create the soundtrack for the spacecraft's epic touchdown.

photo of a pyramid-shaped asteroid in deep space.

Who will get OSIRIS-REx's asteroid samples after they land this weekend?

By Mike Wall published

NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe is set to deliver its bounty of asteroid samples to Earth on Sunday (Sept. 24). What is the ultimate fate of this space-rock stuff?

a space capsule falls through the atmosphere engulfed in a fireball.

How NASA's OSIRIS-REx will bring asteroid samples to Earth in 5 not-so-easy steps

By Josh Dinner published

NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission will face one of the toughest parts of its journey: Protecting samples taken from asteroid Bennu as its capsule descends through Earth's atmosphere for recovery.

a diagram of a space capsule parachuting to Earth

OSIRIS-REx's asteroid sample will come down to Earth on Sept. 24. Here's how to watch it live.

By Elizabeth Howell published

The return capsule of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission is scheduled to touch down in Utah on Sept. 24, bearing samples of asteroid Bennu. Here's how to watch the event live.

An artist's depiction of NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft approaching asteroid Bennu for its sampling attempt.

NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft changed how we think about asteroids. Here's how.

By Tereza Pultarova published

NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission taught astronomers how little they know about space rocks. They might be only a few hundreds of feet wide, but their geology appears surprisingly complex.

a small capsule falls toward earth under an orange and white parachute.

OSIRIS-REx asteroid probe makes final maneuver before Sept. 24 sample delivery

By Mike Wall published

NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe performed one last trajectory-correcting maneuver on Sunday (Sept. 17) to set up the Sept. 24 arrival of its asteroid sample here on Earth.

An illustration of DART approaching its target asteroid system.

Asteroid hit by NASA's DART spacecraft is behaving unexpectedly, high school class discovers

By Brandon Specktor published

Asteroid Dimorphos, which NASA intentionally hit with a rocket during its DART mission in September 2022, is behaving in unpredicted ways.

side-by-side images showing a spacecraft's robotic arm about to contact a gravelly asteroid (left) and stirring up lots of dirt and rock after contact (right).

How much of asteroid Bennu is NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe delivering to Earth this weekend?

By Mike Wall published

NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission is delivering a precious haul of asteroid dirt and gravel to Earth this weekend. How much of this space-rock stuff will there be?

a sample space capsule parachuting to Earth in a test

What if NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid-sample capsule crashes to Earth this weekend?

By Elizabeth Howell published

The descent capsule of NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid-sampling mission is supposed to touch down softly under parachutes on Sept. 24. If it crashes, however, the agency has a backup plan.

A mass of gravel and dirt ejected from the surface of asteroid Bennu by the touchdown of NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe.

How asteroid Bennu caught NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft by surprise and nearly killed it along the way

By Tereza Pultarova published

When the OSIRIS-REx probe arrived at asteroid Bennu, it found a body that looked and behaved quite differently from what scientists had expected.

An animation showing two black and white images side-by-side. The right image has a yellow circle around the dot that is moving across the screen in both images.

NASA's Lucy asteroid-hopping probe captures 1st snapshot of space rock 'Dinky' (photo)

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

NASA's Lucy spacecraft just sent home an impressive glimpse of the smallest asteroid target on its 12-year agenda to study intriguing space rocks.

an animation of an asteroid passing close by Earth

Asteroid Apophis will visit Earth in 2029. Why do scientists want NASA to send a probe there first?

By Andrew Jones published

NASA's Small Bodies Assessment Group wants the agency to send spacecraft to visit the asteroid Apophis before it makes a close approach to Earth in 2029.

a small capsule falls toward earth under an orange and white parachute.

OSIRIS-REx asteroid probe heads toward Earth for Sept. 24 sample delivery

By Mike Wall published

NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe put itself on course toward Earth with a thruster firing on Sept. 10, two weeks before its highly anticipated asteroid-sample delivery.

a lander on the lunar surface

India, NASA to cooperate on human spaceflight and planetary defense

By Mike Wall published

NASA and its Indian counterpart are working to extend their cooperation in the final frontier, in the realms of human spaceflight and planetary defense.

This artist’s concept shows NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft descending toward asteroid Bennu to collect a sample of the asteroid’s surface.

OSIRIS-REx's Dante Lauretta shares final preparations for Sept. 24 asteroid-sample return

By Leonard David published

NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission will see a sample of an asteroid return to Earth on Sept. 24. Here's how the mission's head scientist feels about the chances of success.