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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 

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A large space rock's orbit carries it past Earth.

Pyramid-Size Asteroid to Hurtle Past Earth (Again)

By Mindy Weisberger

A fast-moving visitor is approaching our cosmic neighborhood. Dubbed 2019 SX5, this near-Earth object is about the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

An artist's depiction of the first identified interstellar object, 'Oumuamua.

A Second Interstellar Visitor Has Arrived in Our Solar System. This Time, Astronomers Think They Know Where It Came From

By Rafi Letzter

When 'Oumuamua passed through our solar system in 2017, no one could figure out where the object came from. But astronomers think they've worked out how Comet 2I/Borisov got here.

Glowing meteor, fireball entering Earth's atmosphere.

Falling Fireballs Crashed in Chile Last Week. They Weren't Meteorites, Experts Say.

By Nicoletta Lanese

Chilean officials are investigating a curious collection of burning objects that fell onto parts of the country last week.

This photo from the Hubble Space Telescope shows the spiral galaxy NGC 3717, a dusty swirl of stars about 60 million light-years away.

Pictures from Space! Our Image of the Day

By Space.com Staff

This photo from the Hubble Space Telescope shows the spiral galaxy NGC 3717, a dusty swirl of stars about 60 million light-years away.

An image taken by the main Hayabusa2 spacecraft of the MINERVA-II2 rover during separation on Oct. 2, 2019.

Japan's Hayabusa2 Probe Drops Its Last Rover on Asteroid Ryugu

By Meghan Bartels

Japan's asteroid mission has deployed its last rover to explore Ryugu's rocky surface.

An artist’s impression of two near-Earth asteroids.

Four Asteroids Are Buzzing Earth in Flybys Today (But Don't Worry)

By Hanneke Weitering

At least four potentially hazardous asteroids are making close approaches to Earth today (Oct. 1).

An artist's illustration of the centaur Chiron, which may have rings or orbiting dust structures.

Centaurs Rising: NASA Eyes Missions to Weird Asteroid-Comet Hybrids

By Mike Wall

The Centaurs may get their first-ever close-up soon.

An artist's depiction of a near-Earth asteroid.

Tons of Water in Asteroids Could Fuel Satellites, Space Exploration

By Nola Taylor Redd

A special class of water-rich asteroids would make great targets for asteroid mining.

An image of a protoplanetary disk and black gaps marking where planets are formed, as captured by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array telescope in Chile.

'Oumuamua and Borisov Are Just the Beginning of an Interstellar Object Bonanza

By Meghan Bartels

Astronomers are only now getting the hang of spotting interstellar objects, space debris that fled another solar system to swing through ours.

An artist's depiction of an asteroid.

Dangerous Asteroids May Be Lurking in Jupiter's Shadow

By Nola Taylor Redd

Asteroids and comets hidden in Jupiter's shadow may be in "safe mode" now, but a small change could send them flying towards Earth.

Many of the landforms on the asteroid Ryugu take their names from Japanese folklore.

A Fairy-Tale Mission: The Folklore Behind Japan's Visit to the Asteroid Ryugu

By Nola Taylor Redd

Once upon a time, a spacecraft made a dramatic quest to a distant land to bring back a treasure — and some science.

An artist's illustration of the proposed NEOCam spacecraft, which would hunt for asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth.

NASA Wants a New Space Telescope to Protect Us All from Dangerous Asteroids

By Meghan Bartels

Earth will soon lose a key tool in the fight to spot potentially hazardous asteroids — and NASA has decided to fund a custom-built replacement.

An image overlay shows one of Hayabusa2's target markers falling slowly to the surface of the asteroid Ryugu on Sept. 16, 2019.

Look Out Below! Japan's Hayabusa2 Drops Target Markers on Asteroid Ryugu

By Meghan Bartels

Japan's asteroid-exploring spacecraft has practiced its last task before heading home — and it made a nifty image as well.

An artist's depiction of an asteroid collision in outer space.

Asteroid Dust Triggered an Explosion of Life on Earth 466 Million Years Ago

By Meghan Bartels

Consider the possibility that an asteroid may have transformed the picture of life on Earth — but forget the dinosaurs and the massive crater, and rewind an extra 400 million years.

Kristen John, principal investigator of the Hermes mission, with two pieces of the system.

Hermes Regolith Experiment in Space Takes Aim at Moon Dirt and Asteroid Landings

By Kasandra Brabaw

By 2024, NASA plans to land the next two people on the moon, including the first woman who will ever walk on the lunar surface.

An artistic depiction of an asteroid flying past Earth.

Watch an Asteroid Fly by Earth Today in a Live Webcast from Slooh!

By Elizabeth Howell

This weekend you can see live telescope views of an asteroid hurtling past Earth, thanks to astronomy broadcaster Slooh.

A visualization of some of the near-Earth asteroids tracked by NASA.

2 Asteroids Will Harmlessly Fly By Earth This Weekend, But NASA Will Wave Hello Anyway!

By Meghan Bartels

It's always nice to see old friends, and NASA's asteroid-monitoring team has a busy schedule this weekend (Sept. 13 and 14) doing just that.

An artist's depiction of the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs.

The Asteroid Impact That Doomed the Dinosaurs Also Spawned a Mega-Tsunami

By Elizabeth Howell

The dinosaur-killing asteroid that hit the Earth around 66 million years ago probably generated a huge tsunami, according to new research.

Hundreds of orbiting comets and asteroids are thought to present some risk of colliding with Earth, but the threat is typically very small.

3 Asteroids Are Zipping Past Earth Today

By Mindy Weisberger

Hundreds of orbiting comets and asteroids are thought to present some risk of colliding with Earth, but the threat is typically very small.

An artistic depiction shows a huge asteroid about to slam into Earth.

Asteroid That's Nearly the Height of the World's Tallest Building Is Flying by Earth Soon

By Laura Geggel

This asteroid nearly rivals the height of the world's tallest building.