Two rare asteroids will zoom close to Earth this week, within just 42 hours of each other. Due to their size and trajectory, both space rocks are labeled as ‘potentially hazardous’. But that doesn’t mean they pose an immediate threat to Earth. In fact, they will both fly by safely at thousands of miles per … Read more
Early analysis of the asteroid Bennu sample returned by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has revealed dust rich in carbon, nitrogen and organic compounds, all of which are essential components for life as we know it. The sample is dominated by clay minerals, particularly serpentine, and reflects the type of rocks found on Earth at mid-ocean ridges. … Read more
Space safety 24/06/2024 1866 views 8 holds Two large asteroids will safely pass by Earth this week, a rare event perfectly timed to commemorate this year’s Asteroid Day. Neither poses a risk to our planet, but one was discovered just a week ago, highlighting the need to continue improving our ability to detect potentially dangerous … Read more
Artist’s impression of the asteroid (99942) Apophis. The Planetary Society; CC BY NC 3.0 Friday the 13th may be considered an unlucky day, but at 5:45 AM EDT (11:45 AM CEST) on Friday, April 13, 2029, it will prove just the opposite when an asteroid the size of a “dinosaur killer” safely passes by Earth. … Read more
“The James Webb Telescope: Are We Alone?” about the whole story with Anderson Cooper offers a glimpse into the most powerful telescope ever built. The show premieres Sunday, June 16 at 8 PM ET/PT on CNN. A collision between giant asteroids has likely occurred in recent years in a neighboring galaxy called Beta Pictoris, and … Read more
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has found evidence that two giant asteroids are colliding in a nearby galaxy. The colossal collision threw out 100,000 times more dust than the impact killed the dinosaurs. The violent impact recently occurred in Beta Pictoris, a galaxy 63 light-years away in the constellation Pictoris. Beta Pictoris is a … Read more
Nearly twenty years ago, astronomers observed a huge cloud of fine dust particles around a young star just 63 light-years away from Earth. From recent observations of the Webb Space TelescopeHowever, the dust cloud had mysteriously disappeared. Now a new paper suggests that the dust cloud may have been caused by a violent event that … Read more