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

workers unload a silver crate from a plane and put it in the back of a truck.

OSIRIS-REx's asteroid sample lands in Houston (photos)

By Mike Wall published

The asteroid sample collected by NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft landed in Houston today (Sept. 25), a day after arriving on Earth from very deep space.

a man walks through the desert pumping his hand in the air

'I literally broke into tears': The scientist leading NASA's epic OSIRIS-REx asteroid mission just had the greatest day ever

By Brett Tingley published

As his spacecraft was hurtling toward Earth carrying irreplaceable asteroid samples from deep space, Dante Lauretta was just trying to avoid having a breakdown in front of an international audience.

The sample return capsule from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission is seen shortly after touching down in the desert, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, at the Department of Defense's Utah Test and Training Range.

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 spacecraft fires thrusters near an asteroid in artist's depiction

After NASA's epic OSIRIS-REx capsule landing success, spacecraft heads to asteroid Apophis on new mission

By Andrew Jones published

NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe, which delivered samples of the space rock Bennu to Earth, is now on an extended voyage to study the infamous near-Earth asteroid Apophis.

Scientists take a closer look at the OSIRIS-REx capsule.

NASA's OSIRIS-REx capsule just landed with samples of asteroid Bennu. Next stop: Texas

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Hey NASA, you've just landed your first samples from an asteroid! Where are they going next? Houston, of course.

a space capsule sits on Earth as people cheer in an inset

NASA's OSIRIS-REx lands samples of asteroid Bennu to Earth after historic 4-billion-mile journey

By Brett Tingley last updated

NASA successfully recovered a capsule containing samples of asteroid Bennu taken by its OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in 2020.

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

NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft releases asteroid sample capsule toward Earth in flyby, heads to Apophis

By Tariq Malik published

The first asteroid samples ever collected by NASA are closing in on Earth for a historic landing in Utah today (Sept. 24).

a spacecraft zooms towards Earth

Watch NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid probe approach Earth in this free telescope video

By Robert Lea last updated

The Virtual Telescope Project will point its telescopes towards NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft on Sept. 23 as it approaches Earth to return a sample of the asteroid Bennu.

Scientists have created a detailed topological map of asteroid Bennu.

How NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission will help protect Earth against asteroid Bennu and its flyby in 2182

By Tereza Pultarova published

Asteroid Bennu is the space rock with the highest known probability of hitting Earth in the next 200 years. NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission will help us protect ourselves.

a woman in a baseball cap examines a mock sample-return capsule in a desert landscape.

OSIRIS-REx probe will bring pristine asteroid samples to Earth today. Watch it live

By Mike Wall last updated

NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission is set to deliver its asteroid sample to Earth on Sunday morning (Sept. 24), and you can watch the historic action live.

a spacecraft zooms towards Earth

No, the OSIRIS-REx probe will not bring back asteroid space 'germs'

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Space germs will not piggyback on bits of Bennu that NASA's OSIRIS-REx delivers to Earth this Sunday. Here's why.

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 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

Watch NASA's OSIRIS-REx's asteroid sample-return capsule land on Earth in this free livestream on Sept. 24

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.