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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An illustration of the asteroid Ryugu making a close approach to Earth

Newly discovered asteroid zooms within 2,500 miles of Earth

By Tereza Pultarova published

A newly discovered space rock about 6.5 feet wide (2 meters) zipped past Earth today at a distance five times closer than GPS satellites orbit.

technicians in white coats work on a shiny silvery spacecraft inside a white-walled room.

SpaceX launch of NASA's Psyche mission to bizarre metal asteroid just 1 month away

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Psyche mission is scheduled to launch atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on Oct. 5 and begin heading toward its metal-asteroid namesake.

A cubical satellite under assembly in a clean room.

Europe assembles Hera spacecraft to eye aftermath of DART asteroid crash (video, photos)

By Andrew Jones published

The European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft is now assembled ahead of its journey to analyze the asteroid smashed by NASA's DART mission.

a small capsule descends toward a desert landscape beneath an orange and white parachute.

NASA conducts crucial drop test ahead of Sept. 24 arrival of OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample

By Mike Wall published

The OSIRIS-REx team performed a crucial drop test on Wednesday (Aug. 30), practicing what they'll do when the mission's real asteroid sample comes home on Sept. 24.

four people surround a small yellow-orange space capsule in a dry, flat desert lakebed.

NASA discussing September arrival of OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample: Watch live today

By Mike Wall published

NASA will discuss the September arrival of asteroid samples collected by its OSIRIS-REx probe during a press conference today (Aug. 30), and you can watch it live.

An artist's depiction of the metal-rich asteroid Psyche.

NASA's Psyche mission to a metal world may reveal the mysteries of Earth's interior

By Jim Bell published

Can what we learn about the metal asteroid Psyche with NASA's upcoming mission of the same name be extrapolated to solve some of the mysteries about the Earth's core?

Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, talking to Space.com.

OSIRIS-REx science chief reveals NASA's 1st asteroid sampling mission nearly didn't make it (exclusive interview)

By Tereza Pultarova published

Dante Lauretta, the chief scientist of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, talks about the unexpected challenges of NASA's first asteroid sampling attempt in an exclusive interview.

This artist concept catastrophic collisions between asteroids located in the belt between Mars and Jupiter and how they have formed families of objects on similar orbits around the sun.

How many potentially dangerous asteroids narrowly miss Earth each year?

By Steven Tingay published

Last year Earth had more than 100 close encounters with large asteroids. What are the odds of a direct hit in the near future?

An artist's depiction of an asteroid hitting Earth.

The largest known asteroid impact structure on Earth is buried in southeast Australia, new evidence suggests

By Andrew Glikson published

Search for Life In a new study, scientists reveal new evidence for the largest asteroid impact structure on Earth buried Australia in southern New South Wales.

A satellite scans an asteroid, represented by repeated blue radar arrays emanating from the probe/

Asteroid struck by NASA's DART probe to be radar-scanned with Hera mission

By Josh Dinner published

The radar component for a CubeSat is being sent to study asteroid Dimorphos has been delivered to ESA for integration with its spacecraft.

Brian May and Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission posing with a new book on asteroid Bennu.

Queen Rock legend Brian May launches Space.com astrophotography competition for signed copy of his asteroid book (video)

By Tereza Pultarova last updated

Sir Brian May and NASA's OSIRIS-REx chief scientist Dante Lauretta challenge Space.com readers to photograph solar system objects to win a signed copy of their new book about asteroid Bennu.

Images from the Atlas survey showing the potentially hazardous asteroid 2022 SF289 marked by red boxes

AI algorithm discovers 'potentially hazardous' asteroid 600 feet wide in a 1st for astronomy

By Robert Lea published

A new AI algorithm programmed to hunt for potentially dangerous near-Earth asteroids has spotted its first space rock.

Asteroid exploding in space into lots of little pieces.

How long can an asteroid 'survive'?

By Joanna Thompson published

Asteroids are left over from the early solar system. Here's how they get destroyed.

Queen legend Brian May and OSIRIS-REx chief scientist Dante Lauretta.

Queen's Brian May talks to Space.com about his role in NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission and new book on asteroid Bennu (video)

By Tereza Pultarova published

Legendary guitarist Brian May talks to Space.com about his collaboration with NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission and a new book about asteroid Bennu written with the mission's science lead Dante Lauretta.

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is shown in a clean room on June 26 at the Astrotech Space Operations facility near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA's Psyche mission to metal asteroid undergoes vital testing for October launch

By Josh Dinner published

With the completion of a comprehensive flight software test campaign, NASA engineers are "counting down the days" as the metal-rich-asteroid-bound Psyche probe nears its October launch date.

Queen guitarist Brian May performing.

Queen legend Brian May helped NASA ace its asteroid-sampling mission, new book reveals

By Tereza Pultarova published

Queen guitarist Brian May and the chief scientist of NASA's asteroid-sampling OSIRIS-REx mission have collaborated on a book about the asteroid Bennu — and it's not a PR stunt.

Queen guitarist Brian May performing.

Queen guitarist Brian May to release a book of 3D images of asteroid Bennu

By Tereza Pultarova published

Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Brian May is about to release a book of 3D photographs of the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, based on images gathered by NASA's OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft.

a close-up view of an asteroid in deep space

Asteroid sample incoming: OSIRIS-REx team preps for September landing of Bennu bits

By Leonard David published

Recovery teams are gearing up for the Sept. 24 landing of OSIRIS-REx's asteroid sample in the Utah desert.

A streak of blue glowing light is shown against a dark background of space. Around the streak are spots representing the boulders, each one circled to highlight the positions.

Hubble telescope spies cloud of space rocks created by DART asteroid impact (photos)

By Monisha Ravisetti published

NASA's ambitious asteroid collision mission may have created a swarm of boulders filled with key scientific information.

illustration of a star with bursts of material arcing at the top. the entire image is tinged in blue

Scientists discover 'glitched' neutron star that obliterated an asteroid, then fired off a brilliant explosion

By Robert Lea published

A powerful magnetic neutron star, or magnetar, "glitched" when it destroyed an asteroid, causing it to blast out a fast radio burst and change rotational speed.