Asteroids

NASA Downgrades the Risk of 2024 YR4 to Below 1%NASA Downgrades the Risk of 2024 YR4 to Below 1%

NASA Downgrades the Risk of 2024 YR4 to Below 1%

NASA astronomers have been continuing to monitor the trajectory of asteroid 2024 YR4. The initial calculations suggested a 1.3% probability…

3 days ago
Dramatically Decreasing the Time it Takes to Measure Asteroid DistancesDramatically Decreasing the Time it Takes to Measure Asteroid Distances

Dramatically Decreasing the Time it Takes to Measure Asteroid Distances

We all know that asteroids are out there, that some of them come dangerously close to Earth, and that they've…

2 weeks ago
JWST Finds the Smallest Asteroids Ever Seen in the Main BeltJWST Finds the Smallest Asteroids Ever Seen in the Main Belt

JWST Finds the Smallest Asteroids Ever Seen in the Main Belt

The JWST was never intended to find asteroids. It was built to probe some of our deepest, most demanding questions…

2 weeks ago
Yes, the Odds of an Asteroid Striking Earth Have Doubled. No, You Don’t Need to WorryYes, the Odds of an Asteroid Striking Earth Have Doubled. No, You Don’t Need to Worry

Yes, the Odds of an Asteroid Striking Earth Have Doubled. No, You Don’t Need to Worry

The odds of 2024 YR4 striking Earth in 2032 have doubled to 2.3%, but that's not surprising given that it's…

2 weeks ago
Hybrid Gas/Drill Asteroid Sampler Could Improve Collection AmountsHybrid Gas/Drill Asteroid Sampler Could Improve Collection Amounts

Hybrid Gas/Drill Asteroid Sampler Could Improve Collection Amounts

Asteroid sampling missions are getting increasingly complex. Recent announcements about the existence of amino acids in the sample OSIRIS-REx returned…

3 weeks ago
An Asteroid Has a 1% Chance of Impacting Earth in 2032An Asteroid Has a 1% Chance of Impacting Earth in 2032

An Asteroid Has a 1% Chance of Impacting Earth in 2032

Astronomers have announced the discovery of a new asteroid with a non-zero chance of striking the Earth on December 22,…

4 weeks ago
NASA Scientists Discover “Dark Comets” Come in Two Populations.NASA Scientists Discover “Dark Comets” Come in Two Populations.

NASA Scientists Discover “Dark Comets” Come in Two Populations.

On October 19th, 2017, the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System-1 (Pan-STARRS-1) in Hawaii announced the first-ever detection of…

2 months ago
Could We Use An Asteroid to Shield Astronauts On Their Way to Mars?Could We Use An Asteroid to Shield Astronauts On Their Way to Mars?

Could We Use An Asteroid to Shield Astronauts On Their Way to Mars?

Radiation is a primary concern for long-duration human spaceflight, such as the planned trips to Mars, which are the stated…

3 months ago
How Much Are Asteroids Really Worth?How Much Are Asteroids Really Worth?

How Much Are Asteroids Really Worth?

Popular media love talking about asteroid mining using big numbers. Many articles talk about a mission to Psyche, the largest…

3 months ago
Scientists Reveal a New Way to Study Near-Earth AsteroidsScientists Reveal a New Way to Study Near-Earth Asteroids

Scientists Reveal a New Way to Study Near-Earth Asteroids

On November 18th, 2022, shortly before midnight, the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona and other observatories worldwide detected a…

3 months ago