Asteroids
Dwarf Planet Could Become a Comet
A small dwarf planet out past the orbit of Neptune could eventually become one of the brightest comets ever seen.…
Close Call with Asteroid 2006 XG1 in 2041
I don't want to get you worried, or even mildly concerned. No need to panic. In fact, just read this…
Tag an Asteroid, Win a Prize
The Planetary Society is offering a $50,000 prize for the best plan to reach out an put a tracking beacon…
Just a Single Asteroid Strike Wiped out the Dinosaurs
Most scientists agree that a large asteroid strike 65 million years ago ended the dinosaurs' reign on Earth. Some think…
Detailed Look at Twin Asteroid 1999 KW4
Asteroid 1999 KW4 was first discovered by astronomers in 1999. When it got closer, in 2001, astronomers realized it wasn't…
It Took More than an Asteroid to Kill the Dinosaurs
How did the dinosaurs die? It's a question scientists have been trying to figure out since their fossils were first…
The Link Between Asteroids and Meteorites
In theory, asteroids and meteorites are made of the same basic elements; it's just that asteroids are much much bigger.…
Fast Moving New Horizons Tracks an Asteroid
Still a decade away from its final meeting with Pluto, New Horizons tested out its instruments on a relatively nearby…
Earth’s Second Moon is About to Leave Us
In addition to the Moon, the Earth also has a collection of co-orbital satellites. These are really nothing more than…
Science Team Determines Composition of Asteroid Itokawa
Asteroid Itokawa. Image credit: JAXA. Click to enlarge Itokawa, a spud-shaped, near-Earth asteroid, consists mainly of the minerals olivine and…