asteroid

Latest about asteroid

An asteroid flying past earth

Scientists discover near-Earth asteroid hours before it exploded over Berlin

By Kiley Price published

For only the eighth time in history, scientists detected an asteroid before it made its fiery appearance over Earth. The tiny fireball exploded near Berlin early on Jan. 21.

Asteroids
A meteor shoots across the night sky sky leaving a trail of light across the milky way

Quadrantid meteor shower 2024: The year's 1st meteor shower blazes over North America on Jan. 3

By Jamie Carter published

Up to 120 shooting stars per hour could be visible during a brief peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower — the year's first meteor shower, coming to North America Jan. 3 and 4.

Meteoroids
Asteroid in space.

The 8 most Earth-shattering asteroid discoveries of 2023

By Brandon Specktor published

This year was one of the biggest ever for asteroid science, with NASA's triumphant return from asteroid Bennu, the grand reveal of organic molecules from asteroid Ryugu, a close look at the gory aftermath of an asteroid collision, and more.

Asteroids
An artist's illustration of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft poised to land on the asteroid Bennu.

Editor's pick: The top space stories of 2023

By Brandon Specktor published

Aliens made headlines in 2023, but are we really any closer to finding life beyond Earth? A recap of the best new evidence, and other remarkable stories from the year in space.

Space
This graphic shows the orbits of all the known Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs), numbering over 1,400 as of early 2013.

Earth's intense gravity may rip space rocks apart, reducing the risk of 'planet killer' asteroids

By Abha Jain published

Earth and other terrestrial planets probably use their gravitational forces to tear apart asteroids ― but this creates more streams of smaller asteroids.

Asteroids
A view of the outside of the OSIRIS-REx sample collector. Sample material from asteroid Bennu can be seen on the middle right. Scientists have found evidence of both carbon and water in initial analysis of this material. The bulk of the sample is located inside.

'What is that material?': Potentially hazardous asteroid Bennu stumps scientists with its odd makeup

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Scientists found signs of organic molecules in the first samples of potentially hazardous asteroid Bennu, as well as a 'head scratching' material that has yet to be identified.

Space Exploration
The sample sent to the UK's Natural History Museum is just a small slice of the regolith collected from Bennu.

Sample of 'potentially hazardous' asteroid Bennu, which may contain the seeds of life, arrives in UK for analysis

By Ben Turner published

A sample from the asteroid Bennu, collected by the OSIRIS-REx mission, has arrived at London's Natural History Museum for analysis. Scientists are optimistic that it could contain the seeds of life.

Space Exploration
Any asteroid larger than 165 feet (50 m) across is capable of breaching Earth's atmosphere and striking the ground. The sun's glare could be blinding us to thousands of them.

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

By Brandon Specktor published

Feature 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.

Feature
This image shows the asteroid Dinkinesh and its satellite as seen by the Lucy Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (L’LORRI) as NASA's Lucy Spacecraft departed the system.

Newfound 'moon' around asteroid Dinkinesh is actually two tiny moons touching

By Joanna Thompson published

Additional images from NASA's Lucy mission reveal that the "moon" orbiting asteroid Dinkinesh is actually a contact binary, made of two smaller moons touching.

Asteroids
Asteroids
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