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 rock against a space background with Earth and moon in background

Evidence of dinosaur-killing asteroid impact found on the moon

By Robert Lea published

Lunar glass reveals that large meteorite strikes on Earth, like the impact that killed the dinosaurs, were not isolated events.

Hurricane Ian swirls in an image captured by NOAA's GOES 16 satellite ahead of Florida landfall.

Pictures from space! Our image of the day

By Space.com Staff published

Asteroid Dimorphos is larger than Rome's Colosseum.

NASA's DART asteroid impact won't make Dimorphos hit Earth — but here's what would happen if it did

By Tereza Pultarova published

NASA's DART mission didn't nudge its target asteroid toward Earth, but there could be other space rocks on a collision course with Earth.

two bright blobs, one surrounded by wispy rays

Behold the 1st images of DART's wild asteroid crash!

By Meghan Bartels published

DART truly made a mess last night.

A sequence of images showing the brightening of asteroid Didymos immediately after the impact of NASA's DART spacecraft.

Astronomers stunned as binary asteroid Didymos-Dimorphos brightens after DART space rock impact

By Tereza Pultarova published

Astronomers watched in awe as binary asteroid Didymos brightened up immediately after the impact of NASA's DART mission on Monday (Sept. 26).

two grey lumps against black background. Didymos is on the left and dimorphos on the right.

Didymos binary asteroid system: NASA's target for DART

By Vicky Stein published

Reference Didymos is a binary asteroid system that NASA's DART mission visited during the agency's first planetary defense mission.

Artist's illustration showing the DART spacecraft approaching Dimorphos.

NASA's DART asteroid-smashing mission: The ultimate guide

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

Reference NASA's DART mission was the first to test asteroid deflection for planetary defense by smashing a spacecraft into an asteroid. Explore the mission here.

The last photo Earth received from the DART spacecraft on Sept. 26, 2022.

Wow! Telescopes spot DART asteroid impact in deep space (videos)

By Mike Wall published

Telescopes here on Earth captured the DART asteroid probe's spectacular deep-space death.

a gray rocky ball against black space

After DART's incredible asteroid impact, the science is only beginning

By Keith Cooper published

DART may have completed its journey, but the work is only just starting for scientists as they set about learning how much the asteroid Dimorphos was deflected by its impact.

people in blue shirts standing and clapping

'Terror and joy': NASA's DART asteroid impact a historic success (and relief)

By Meghan Bartels published

It's rare for spacecraft mission personnel to cheer at the words "loss of signal," but tonight, that's exactly what happened.

a grey rocky body against a black background

NASA crashes DART spacecraft into asteroid in world's 1st planetary defense test

By Tariq Malik published

For the first time in history, a spacecraft from Earth has crashed into an asteroid to test a way to save our planet from extinction.

A series of images captured by the DART spacecraft as it sped to impact the asteroid Dimorphos on Sept. 26, 2022.

Asteroid impact: Here's the last thing NASA's DART spacecraft saw before it crashed

By Meghan Bartels published

NASA's DART spacecraft is no more, but its final view is incredible.

An artist's impression of the DART probe smashing into the asteroid Dimorphos.

When will we know how much DART changed the orbit of asteroid Dimorphos?

By Tereza Pultarova published

It will take days to weeks for astronomers to confirm whether or not NASA's asteroid smasher DART changed the orbit of its target, asteroid Dimorphos.

spacecraft approaching asteroid in background in artist impression

Why DART is a mover and shaker in asteroid planetary defense: NASA science chief

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA will slam the DART spacecraft into an asteroid for target practice to get ready for the next big hit, but don't worry: nothing big is set to come at us for the next 100 years.

fuzzy grey crescent

DART asteroid smasher's tiny companion spots Earth and stars (photos)

By Meghan Bartels published

The DART spacecraft's tiny companion is ready to photograph a brand-new impact site Monday night (Sept. 26).

Most asteroids burn up upon entering Earth's atmosphere. Only the large ones make it to the ground.

Asteroid apocalypse: How big must a space rock be to end human civilization?

By Tereza Pultarova published

How big a space rock must be to no longer be just a mesmerizing sight? What size is big enough to wreck a whole city? And a continent? And what else does the damage depend on?

boxy spacecraft approaching large rock

NASA's DART spacecraft will crash into an asteroid tonight in historic planetary defense test

By Stefanie Waldek published

On Monday (Sept. 26) at 7:14 p.m. EDT (2314 GMT), if all goes well, DART will crash into Dimorphos in an attempt to alter the moonlet's trajectory.

DART spacecraft framed by two asteroids in an artist's conception

How to watch NASA's DART spacecraft crash into an asteroid live online today

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's Double Asteroid Redirect Mission (DART) aims to move a space rock from its orbit in a safe planetary defense test Sept. 26, and you can watch the action live.

An artist's depiction of comets passing Earth.

Protecting Earth from asteroids is complicated and requires global cooperation

By Andrew Jones published

NASA's DART spacecraft is closing in on its appointment with Dimorphos, but the energetic encounter is just the very speartip of global efforts to keep life on Earth safe from asteroid impacts.

An artists impression of the DART probe smashing into the asteroid Dimorphos.

NASA's DART asteroid crash is a rare opportunity for space-rock scientists

By Tereza Pultarova published

NASA's DART mission, which will slam into an asteroid on Sept. 26, is not just a planetary defense exercise; it's also an opportunity to learn how binary asteroids form.