Asteroids
Latest about Asteroids
![An artist's impression of a near-Earth asteroid.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaNog7E2PwANAXxyUtDTac-320-80.jpg)
Newly discovered asteroid the size of a swimming pool has a 1-in-600 chance of colliding with Earth, NASA says
By Brandon Specktor published
The newly discovered asteroid 2023 DW could collide with Earth in February 2046, although the odds of an impact are low.
![Field of asteroids with space background and glowing orange shiny star.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nztBC5TzcPhHe3kTDyJUY4-320-80.jpg)
What's the smallest known asteroid? What about the largest?
By Joanna Thompson published
Not all asteroids are planet-killers — most are tiny and others are huge. So what are the largest and smallest asteroids in the solar system?
![Illustration of NASA's DART spacecraft and the Italian Space Agency's (ASI) LICIACube prior to impact at the Didymos binary system.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wYy2EWN8XGmQQXXsyQJJPJ-320-80.jpg)
NASA confirms success of DART mission, proving humanity can deflect killer asteroids with rockets
By Brandon Specktor published
Four new studies confirm that NASA's DART mission, which crashed a rocket into the asteroid Dimorphos, changed the asteroid's trajectory and could potentially save Earth one day, given enough time to prepare.
![In September 2022, NASA’s DART probe smashed into the Dimorphos asteroid. The Hubble Space Telescope managed to capture an image of the giant dust plume that was generated.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RVUs4TwSnGpy8NywBy52xE-320-80.jpg)
New Hubble footage shows exact moment a NASA spacecraft slammed into an asteroid 7 million miles from Earth
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission slammed into a small space rock last year, and the effects were visible from Earth orbit.
![Grains from the asteroid Ryugu alloted to the Hayabusa2 Initial Analysis Soluble Organic Matter Team from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in order to test for organic materials.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fZBhwe96vMHJdkmhyQU2rK-320-80.jpg)
'Building blocks of life' recovered from asteroid Ryugu are older than the solar system itself
By Stephanie Pappas published
The first analyses of samples brought back from the asteroid Ryugu show that this space rock contains some of the molecules needed for life.
![An artist's impression of a near-Earth asteroid.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaNog7E2PwANAXxyUtDTac-320-80.jpg)
NASA warns of 3 skyscraper-sized asteroids headed toward Earth this week. Thankfully, they'll all miss.
By Brandon Specktor published
A trio of enormous asteroids, including two 'potentially hazardous' ones, will cross Earth's orbit around the sun this week, according to NASA. Here's what that means.
![A collage of six planetary radar observations of the asteroid 2011 AG5 captured a day after the asteroid made its close approach to Earth on Feb. 3.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eR3ZP6zKFX2UgAxE6PtPEf-320-80.jpg)
'Potentially hazardous' asteroid that recently zipped past Earth is an elongated weirdo with an odd rotation
By Harry Baker published
An asteroid that flew precariously close to Earth in early February has an extremely unusual shape and rotation for an object of its kind, new NASA research has shown.
![An illustration of a large rocky asteroid moving through space as the blue Earth sits in the distance](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MFRgpwvmKVNFQeY8a9vgxM-320-80.jpg)
'Potentially hazardous' asteroid twice the size of the World Trade Center will shoot past Earth tonight
By JoAnna Wendel published
Asteroid (199145) 2005 YY128 will pass by Earth at a distance of 2.5 million miles on Feb. 15, but will pose no threat to our planet.
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