Asteroids

Latest about Asteroids

An illustration of a large round asteroid covered in craters surrounded by smaller asteroids with a orange glowing sun in the top left of the image.

Vera Rubin Observatory discovers fastest spinning asteroid ever and its huge!

By Mike Wall published

The Vera Rubin Observatory has found 19 new "superfast rotator" asteroids, including the fastest-spinning big space rock ever found.

Asteroids

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS isn't an alien spacecraft, astronomers confirm. 'In the end, there were no surprises.'

By Robert Lea published

Bad news for those hoping interstellar invader 3I/ATLAS is an alien spacecraft as technosignature search turns up empty.

Asteroids
Asteroid belt

Asteroid belt — What it is, where it is and how it formed

By Nola Taylor Tillman last updated

Reference Most asteroids orbit between Mars and Jupiter in the main asteroid belt. But some space rocks stray out of the main belt and threaten Earth.

Reference
a ball of grey boulders and rocks seen against the blackness of space

NASA discovers 'space gum' and sugars 'crucial to life' in asteroid Bennu samples brought to Earth (video)

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Asteroid Bennu samples contain life-friendly sugars, a strange "space-gum," and ancient stardust

Asteroids
An illustration of the "God of Destruction" asteriod Apophis as it makes a close approach to Earth in April 2029

A dying satellite could use its final moments to photograph the infamous asteroid Apophis in 2029

By Andrew Jones published

The Australian company HEO Robotics wants to join efforts to study a rare space event, conducting its own flyby of the asteroid Apophis when it makes its close approach to Earth in 2029.

Asteroids
NASA's OSIRIS-APEX asteroid probe captured this image of Earth during a close flyby on Sept. 23, 2025.

NASA probe captures stunning photos of Earth and moon on the way to infamous asteroid Apophis

By Samantha Mathewson published

NASA's OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft captured stunning new images as it whipped past Earth during a high-speed slingshot maneuver, sending the probe on a fast track toward the asteroid Apophis.

Asteroids
An Earth is projected on a dark screen as children sit on blocks in a dimly red-lit theater

Walk through the asteroid strike that killed the dinosaurs with American Museum of Natural History's new 'Impact' exhibit

By Joanna Thompson published

"It sounds like science fiction or the stuff of Hollywood movies."

Asteroids
(Main) An image of the asteroid Ryugu as seen by the Japanese mission Hayabusa2 (Top right) a sample of Ryugu provided to NASA scientists (bottom right) an illustration of bacteria

A Flash, a Boom, a New Microbe Habitat

By Katherine Kornei published

After an asteroid struck Finland long ago, microscopic life colonized the impact site within a few million years, new research reveals.

Asteroids
Artist's illustration of an asteroid in deep space.

12-year-old discovers 2 possible new asteroids

By Elizabeth Howell published

Siddharth Patel has been watching the sky since the age of five. Fresh off two possible asteroid discoveries, he's taking a big step toward his astronaut dream.

Asteroids
a white blurry dot on a black starry background

Astronomers discover 2nd fastest asteroid in the solar system hiding in the sun's glare

By Elizabeth Howell published

A scientist spotted an asteroid hiding in the sun's glare that orbits the sun in just 128 days, making it the second fastest known asteroid in the solar system.

Asteroids
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