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

two grey rocks in space

Curious double moon discovered orbiting asteroid 'Dinky' now has a name

By Monisha Ravisetti published

Asteroid Dinkinesh, target No. 1 on Lucy's journey, turned out to be not one, but two (technically three) space rocks put together. Scientists finally gave its satellite a name.

This illustration depicts asteroid Phaethon being heated by the Sun. The asteroid’s surface gets so hot that sodium inside Phaethon’s rock likely vaporizes and vents into space, causing it to brighten like a comet and form a tail.

Asteroid Phaethon's mysterious tail may finally have an explanation

By Conor Feehly published

Spectral analysis of the mystery asteroid Phaethon reveals its composition at last.

illustration of spacecraft with two solar panels with stars and black space in behind

NASA's Psyche spacecraft just fired a laser 10 million miles away in deep space

By Rahul Rao published

The Psyche spacecraft just fired a laser on its way to a metal asteroiod, in a test that could help speed up science transmissions across the solar system.

an asteroid falls to Earth above a city skyline

'Planet killer' asteroids are hiding in the sun's glare. Can we stop them in time?

By Brandon Specktor published

In the glare of the sun, an unknown number of near-Earth asteroids move on unseen orbits. A new generation of space telescopes could be our best defense against potential disaster.

an astronaut in a spacesuit walks on mars

Season 4 of 'For All Mankind' debuts with alternate asteroid history

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The events of 2003 changed the direction of human space exploration — both in our timeline and that of the alternate history series "For All Mankind." The fourth season picks up in 2003.

a pumping rig sits atop the moon, as if they were comparable in size.

NASA’s robotic prospectors are helping scientists understand what asteroids are made of, setting the stage for miners to follow someday

By Valerie Payré published

Some companies hope to one day search for deposits that are literally out of this world — on asteroids.

a shiny asteroid hangs in the darkness of space with a faint sun in the distance.

Asteroids in the solar system could contain undiscovered, superheavy elements

By Johann Rafelski published

Scientists have predicted for a long time that elements with around 164 protons could have a relatively long half-life, or even be stable.

three grey space rocks in the blackness of space. the largest is alone on the left; the smaller two are on the right, touching one another

Strange moon of asteroid Dinkinesh is weirder than thought after NASA probe finds 'contact binary' (photo)

By Brett Tingley published

Asteroid Dinkinesh is not only a binary, but its satellite is itself a "contact binary" consisting of two space rocks touching one another.

Inside the metal container in the center lies a piece of asteroid Bennu. On the left is part of the orange Atlas V rocket scale model and, on the right, is part of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft scale model.

Seeing NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample up close at the Smithsonian was surreal

By Monisha Ravisetti published

The museum's curator of meteorites had been dreaming of this moment for two decades.

Artist's illustration of Japan's DESTINY+ asteroid probe in space, with earth in the background.

Japan's mission to bizarre asteroid Phaethon delayed to 2025

By Andrew Jones published

Japan's DESTINY+ mission to 3200 Phaethon, the parent body of the famous Geminid meteor shower, will have to wait a bit longer to get off the ground.

a small grey rock inside a glass container

Smithsonian debuts 1st display of asteroid Bennu sample brought back by OSIRIS-REx

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A sizable crowd turned out to see a small rock as the Smithsonian debuted the first display of a piece of the asteroid Bennu from the sample recently brought back by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission.

black and white photo of one large asteroid and one small asteroid, against the blackness of space.

Surprise! Asteroid 'Dinky' is actually a double space rock, NASA's Lucy probe reveals (photo)

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Lucy spacecraft just flew by its first asteroid — and discovered that the space rock has a companion.

A size comparison of Dinkinesh (shown in blue) and other main asteroid belt objects Bennu and (2867) Steins.

NASA's Lucy spacecraft successfully completes 1st flyby of asteroid 'Dinky'

By Monisha Ravisetti published

NASA's Lucy mission is set to visit several asteroids over 12 years, and the probe just successfully flew by target number one.

dinosaurs look on as an asteroid plumets through the sky

Chicxulub asteroid impact created 2-year cloud of dust that may have killed the dinosaurs

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Rocks formed during the Chicxulub asteroid impact reveal fine dust particles were main drivers of the global winter which led to extinction of 75% of Earth's species.

An illustration of the Lucy spacecraft and an asteroid against a bluish, starry snippet of space.

NASA's Lucy probe will fly by asteroid 'Dinkinesh' on Nov. 1. Here's what to expect

By Robert Lea published

On Wednesday, Nov. 1, NASA’s Lucy spacecraft will make its first flyby of an asteroid, zooming past a space rock named Dinkinesh before heading to the Trojan asteroids of Jupiter.

a pile of gems in a dark reflective case

Space rocks and asteroid dust are pricey, but these aren’t the most expensive materials used in science

By Chris Impey published

I use Moon and Mars rocks in my teaching and have a modest collection of meteorites. I marvel at the fact that I can hold in my hand something that is billions of years old from billions of miles away.

photo of dark powder and small dark pebbles on a silver metallic surface.

1st public exhibit of OSIRIS-Rex asteroid sample to open Nov. 3 at Smithsonian

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The public will get its first direct look at a fragment of the asteroid Bennu when the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History debuts its display of the NASA-returned sample on Nov. 3.

OSIRIS-REx curation team members at NASA’s Johnson Space Center begin the process of removing and flipping the TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Mechanism) from the avionics deck of the mission's science canister.

NASA can't open its OSIRIS-REx asteroid capsule yet, but the outside alone holds more than enough samples

By Monisha Ravisetti published

Scientists have confirmed that OSIRIS-REx brought home at least 70.3 grams of material from asteroid Bennu, surpassing its intended goal of 60 grams.

This artist's concept illustrates an asteroid belt around the bright star Vega. Evidence for this warm ring of debris was found using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, and the European Space Agency's Herschel Space Observatory, in which NASA plays an important role.

Nearby asteroid may contain elements 'beyond the periodic table', new study suggests

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Naturally occurring superheavy elements beyond those listed in the periodic table could potentially explain why asteroid 33 Polyhymnia is so dense, new research suggests.

An illustration of NASA's Lucy spacecraft as it approaches the asteroid Dinkinesh.

NASA's Lucy probe will fly by a 'dinky' asteroid on Nov. 1. Here's what to expect (video)

By Robert Lea published

A new NASA video explains what will happen when the space agency's Lucy probe flies by the space rock Dinkinesh on Nov. 1, in a test ahead of its trek to the Trojan asteroids in Jupiter's orbit.