New research suggests that dark comets, which make up up to 60% of near-Earth objects, may originate in the asteroid belt and may carry subsurface ice that may have contributed to Earth’s water. Credit: SciTechDaily.com Research from the University of Michigan shows that as many as 60% of objects near Earth are dark comets. These … Read more
China is set to launch its first asteroid deflection mission, targeting the near-Earth object (NEO) 2015 XF261 by 2030. The mission aims to demonstrate the country’s planetary defense capabilities and contribute to global efforts to protect Earth from potential asteroid impacts. Overview of the Chinese asteroid mission and target selection The China National Space Administration … Read more
China is planning its first mission to hit an asteroid in the name of planetary defense. The mission will serve a dual purpose: one craft will hit the asteroid while its partner observes the space rock to learn more about the solar system and its formation. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) mission may have … Read more
When we think of unexpected events, asteroid impacts are usually pretty low on the list. After all, it is highly unlikely that a large asteroid will hit Earth in the near future. Given the potential catastrophic damage such an event could cause, NASA experts have made preparing for this distant possibility a priority. Every two … Read more
Fuzzy new photos of a mountain-sized asteroid, a ‘planet killer’ that recently reached its closest approach to Earth in more than a century have revealed a surprising new feature of the giant space rock: it has a secret mini-moon. Asteroid 2011 UL21 is a possibly dangerousnear-Earth object previously estimated to be anywhere from 1.1 to … Read more
NASA tracked two near-Earth asteroids, gathering vital data on their trajectories and physical characteristics using radar technology that supports ongoing planetary defense efforts. (Artistic concept.) Credit: SciTechDaily.com Deep Space Network’s Goldstone planetary radar had a busy few days observing asteroids 2024 MK and 2011 UL21 as they safely passed by Earth. Researchers at NASA‘s Jet … Read more
TOKYO — A House of Representatives bill would direct NASA to begin work on an asteroid mission in collaboration with industry, as well as a space debris inspection mission. The House Appropriations Committee released the report accompanying its commerce, justice and science (CJS) spending bill on July 8, a day before a markup by the … Read more
A micrograph of a dark Bennu particle, about a millimeter long, with a crust of bright phosphate. A smaller fragment that has broken off is visible on the right. Credit: From Lauretta & Connolly et al. (2024) Meteoritics and planetary sciencedoi:10.1111/maps.14227 Analysis of a sample from the asteroid Bennu has revealed essential components of life … Read more
I’m standing so close to JAXA’s Hayabusa2 asteroid lander that I could touch it. Instead, I jump on top of it. Then I strike a pose. When I jump off, I float briefly in the low gravity before landing gently on the surface of Ryugu, a rocky, gray world devoid of life and color. The … Read more
NASA warns of possible asteroid collision with Earth in 2024 The Threat of Near-Earth Objects Hundreds of millions of rocks orbit the sun in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. While many of these rocks remain in the asteroid belt, some venture close to Earth, earning them the designation Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). NASA defines … Read more