Asteroids
Organic Material Found on an Asteroid Sample Returned by Hayabusa 1
Panspermia is an idea that has been around for a long time. It was first mentioned in the 5th century…
Dust in the Chixalub Crater Makes the Compelling Case That an Asteroid Wiped out the Dinosaurs 65 Million Years ago
For decades scientists have believed that an asteroid impact event ended the era of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.…
Jupiter has Added a Comet to its Trojan Collection
Jupiter is notorious for capturing objects that venture too close to the gas giant and its enormous pull of gravity.…
Jupiter’s Trojan Asteroids Offer Surprises Even Before NASA’s Lucy Mission has a Chance to Visit Them.
A new study out this month suggests that Jupiter's Trojan asteroids may be more peculiar than previously thought. The Trojan…
OSIRIS-REx is Heading for Home in May
The OSIRIS-REx team decided to delay the spacecraft’s departure from asteroid Bennu for two months. The departure window opens in…
Here’s the Asteroid Hayabusa2 is Going to be Visiting Next
Check out this image of asteroid 1998 KY26 from the Subaru Telescope. It's not exactly beautiful, but it's not intended…
Even the Outside of Hayabusa 2’s Sample Capsule has Asteroid Debris on it
According to statements made by JAXA, the samples returned by the Hayabusa 2 mission included black sand and gases obtained…
We’re About to Find Out How Well Biomining Works in Space
Mining is traditionally thought of as an activity that utilizes picks and shovels, or in more modern times, huge machines…
Japan’s Hayabusa 2 Probe Drops Off Bits of an Asteroid and Heads for Its Next Target
Japan's Hayabusa 2 probe zoomed past Earth on December 5th and dropped off a capsule containing bits of an asteroid,…
Hayabusa 2’s Sample is Landing on Earth December 6th
Japan’s Hayabusa 2 spacecraft is nearly back home, with precious cargo aboard! The sample-return mission departed asteroid Ryugu (162173 Ryugu)…