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
The Fifth Planetary Defense Interagency Tabletop Exercise focused on an asteroid impact scenario designed by NASA JPL’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies. It is highly unlikely that a large asteroid will hit Earth in the near future. But because the damage from such an event could be extensive, NASA conducts hypothetical asteroid impact “tabletop” … 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
NASA’s watchful eyes in the sky have detected an asteroid, designated 2024 LB4, that is expected to make a close approach to Earth. This asteroid, which is comparable in size to a commercial airliner and has a diameter of about 30 meters, is on a trajectory that will bring it within 3,000,000 kilometers of our … Read more
ESA’s fireball camera in Cáceres, Spain, captured this stunning meteor on Saturday evening, May 18, 2024. Credit: ESA/PDO/AMS82 – AllSky7 Fireball Network A meteor lighting up the skies over Spain and Portugal was captured by the Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite and a ground-based camera in Spain. This event showcased the capabilities of the new … Read more