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

This still from a NASA animation depicts a comet as it enters the inner solar system, with light from the sun warming the comet to create its coma and tail.

Wild idea: Tagalong spacecraft could watch a comet form

By Mike Wall published

A few decades from now, humanity could get an up-close look at a comet blazing to life for the first time.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA's Lucy asteroid-exploring spacecraft lifts off from Space Launch Complex-41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida before dawn on Oct. 16, 2021.

NASA launches robotic archaeologist Lucy on ambitious mission to Trojan asteroids

By Amy Thompson published

NASA's newest asteroid probe, named Lucy, successfully launched on 12-year mission to visit 8 asteroids early Saturday (Oct. 16).

The fairing enclosing the Lucy spacecraft as seen at the tip of a ULA Atlas V rocket on Oct. 14, 2021, two days before its first launch opportunity.

NASA's Lucy asteroid mission has good weather for Saturday launch. Here's how to watch live.

By Amy Thompson published

NASA's newest planetary science mission, an asteroid-observing probe named Lucy that will fly by a record eight different asteroids, is ready to launch and you can watch the action live online.

NASA Lucy mission-inspired crochet spacecraft

NASA Lucy asteroid mission-inspired craft ideas to try at home

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

The launch window for NASA's Lucy mission launch window opens on Saturday (Oct. 16). Here are some Lucy-inspired craft activities to keep you occupied until then.

Artist's depictions of tThe eight asteroids that NASA's Lucy mission will visit.

Meet the 8 asteroids NASA's Lucy spacecraft will visit

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

The Lucy mission is scheduled to launch on Oct. 16, 2021, to study the unique Trojan asteroids, which orbit ahead of and behind the planet Jupiter.

Paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson saw the Lucy spacecraft, named for his discovery of a 3-million-year-old hominin, in July 2021, when the spacecraft was nearly complete.

Discoverer of Lucy asteroid mission's namesake fossil excited to watch Saturday launch

By Meghan Bartels published

Decades ago, Donald Johanson found fossils of an early hominin that would rewrite scientists' understanding of our species. Now, he'll watch a spacecraft named for the discovery blast off Earth.

An artist's depiction (not to scale) of the Trojan asteroids clumped ahead of and behind Jupiter.

NASA's Lucy probe will visit 8 asteroids in 12 years. Here's how it will work.

By Meghan Bartels published

Squeezing flybys of eight asteroids, most in a completely unexplored region of space, into just 12 years is a challenge, but that's exactly what NASA's newest mission will do.

An image of the plaque affixed to NASA's Lucy spacecraft as a message to future humans.

NASA's Lucy asteroid probe has a time capsule plaque with messages to future humans

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Lucy mission will carry on the NASA deep-space tradition of bringing a commemorative plaque along for the cosmic ride.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket rolled out to the launch pad on Oct. 14, 2021, with NASA's Lucy mission to the Trojan asteroids at its tip.

The rocket ride for NASA's ambitious Lucy asteroid mission rolls out to launch pad

By Amy Thompson published

NASA's newest asteroid probe, named Lucy, rolled out of United Launch Alliance's vertical integration facility and onto the launch pad today (Oct. 14) ahead of its planned Saturday morning launch.

An artist's depiction of the Lucy spacecraft studying an asteroid.

NASA's Lucy asteroid mission will explore mysteries of the early solar system

By Meghan Bartels published

Spacecraft have visited most pockets of the solar system by now, but a new region is about to come under the robotic inspection: the two clumps of asteroids that flank mighty Jupiter in its orbit.

Engineers rotate the Lucy spacecraft during late-stage launch preparations on Sept. 1, 2021.

How to watch NASA's Lucy asteroid mission launch this week online

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA is getting ready to launch a new science spacecraft Saturday (Oct. 16) to study asteroids near Jupiter, and you can watch mission coverage live all week.

The Lucy spacecraft enclosed in its fairing being lifted onto its rocket in preparation for launch.

NASA's daring Lucy asteroid mission is ready to launch

By Meghan Bartels published

NASA's newest asteroid mission, a spacecraft targeting space rocks that orbit ahead of and behind Jupiter, is ready to begin its journey.

An electron microscope image of a micron-sized silicon carbide stardust grain extracted from the Murchinson meteorite.

Ancient meteorites preserve building blocks of early solar system

By Tereza Pultarova published

Scientists have used a new method to analyse the composition of ancient grains in meteorites with unprecedented accuracy to shed light on their mysterious origin.

NASA's Lucy spacecraft was encapsulated into its rocket fairing on Sept. 30, 2021, in preparation for launch.

NASA's asteroid spacecraft Lucy launches this week on ambitious 12-year mission

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's next asteroid-bound mission to explore the earliest days of our solar system is nearly ready to launch.

An illustration showing the DART spacecraft blasting toward the asteroid Didymos.

NASA spacecraft will crash into an asteroid at 15,000 mph. Will it make a dent?

By Brandon Specktor published

NASA's DART mission will crash a spaceship into an asteroid at 15,000 mph. The mission launched in November.

A composite image shows the passage of 2005 QN173, a rare active asteroid. The nucleus is in the upper left corner of the image; the tail streaks diagonally across the frame.

Is it an asteroid or comet? This strange solar system object is actually both.

By Meghan Bartels published

Scientists have identified a rare solar system object with traits of both an asteroid and a comet.

An artist's illustration of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, the main destination of the United Arab Emirates' second interplanetary mission.

United Arab Emirates to launch bold asteroid mission in 2028

By Mike Wall published

The United Arab Emirates aims to launch its second interplanetary mission in 2028, an ambitious mission to the asteroid belt that will conclude with a landing on a space rock.

An artist's depiction of NASA's Lucy spacecraft studying asteroids.

NASA's record-breaking Lucy asteroid mission gearing up for October launch

By Mike Wall published

Lucy is scheduled to launch Oct. 16, kicking off a landmark mission that will see the probe get up close and personal with eight different space rocks over the next dozen years.

Asteroid Apophis will fly very close to Earth, but won't hit us for at least 100 years.

Apophis: The asteroid we thought might hit us

By Robert Lea published

Though we can now be certain the asteroid Apophis will not strike Earth in 2029, its close passage offers us a unique scientific opportunity.

An asteroid zooms past Earth

Asteroid three times the size of the Statue of Liberty will zoom past Earth on fall equinox

By Brandon Specktor published

An asteroid measuring about three times the size of the Statue of Liberty will sail harmlessly by Earth on Sept. 22, the 2021 fall equinox.