Asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, although they can be located throughout the solar system. These celestial bodies range in size from tiny pebbles to objects that are hundreds of kilometers in diameter. Asteroids are considered remnants from the early solar system, over 4.5 billion years ago, composed mostly of rock and metal, and they have not undergone the same transformational processes as planets. Their varied compositions and orbital paths offer scientists valuable clues about the early solar system’s formation and the materials that constituted the planets. Some asteroids cross Earth’s orbit and are classified as near-Earth objects (NEOs), which pose potential collision threats to our planet. The study of asteroids has significant implications for understanding Earth’s history, including the origin of water and organic materials necessary for life, and for future endeavors in planetary defense and space resource utilization.
Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time will revolutionize Solar System science by revealing a population of previously undiscovered interstellar comets and…
A University of Michigan study reveals that up to 60% of near-Earth objects may be dark comets, containing ice that might have contributed to Earth’s…
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission returned a sample from asteroid Bennu, revealing it contains key solar system materials and possible signs of a watery past. This discovery…
The Deep Space Network’s Goldstone planetary radar had a busy few days observing asteroids 2024 MK and 2011 UL21 as they safely passed Earth. Researchers…
Analysis of a sample from asteroid Bennu found essential life components and hints of a watery past, offering insights into solar system origins and prebiotic…
The Meteor Crater in Arizona, formed by a meteorite impact 50,000 years ago, provides valuable insights into the geological processes of planetary bodies. Preserved by…
Two asteroids, including the newly detected 2024 MK, will pass Earth safely this week, coinciding with Asteroid Day. The event highlights efforts such as the…
Researchers from the University of Leicester have linked the shift of the Solar System’s giant planets 60-100 million years after its formation to the creation…
NASA’s Lucy spacecraft discovered that the asteroid Dinkinesh, also known as “Dinky,” is orbited by a satellite composed of two fused moons, collectively named “Selam.”…
New observations spotlight the volatile processes that shape star systems like our own, offering a unique glimpse into the primordial stages of planetary formation. Astronomers…
NASA’s Lucy spacecraft’s November 2023 flyby of asteroid Dinkinesh revealed significant geological features indicating its internal strength and complex history. Images showed a trough, a…
In 2029, asteroid Apophis will closely pass Earth, offering a rare research opportunity for projects like Germany’s NEAlight, which aims to develop defensive strategies against…
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a new method for estimating the age of asteroids using dynamics, demonstrating this approach on the asteroid Selam, found…
Scientists discuss recent advancements and the role of radar in planetary science and defense. How can humans protect Earth from “devastating asteroid and comet impacts?”…
Samples reveal evidence of changes experienced by the surface of asteroid Ryugu, some probably due to micrometeoroid bombardment. Analyzing samples retrieved from the asteroid Ryugu…
Prior to the emergence of life on Earth, essential chemistry was necessary to create organic molecules from the elemental building blocks of nitrogen, sulfur, carbon,…
The NASA OSIRIS-REx team received the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy for their historic mission of returning a sample from the asteroid Bennu. This achievement…
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx team received the prestigious Goddard Memorial Trophy for its historic mission of collecting and returning an asteroid sample, aiding scientific research on the…