Asteroids

A pair of asteroids have been spotted travelling Earthwards in their orbit by NASA. The US Space Agency issued an alert that both of these space rocks have been designated as Near-Earth Asteroids, and will pass the planet by close margins. These close approaches follow the continuing trend of asteroid flybys in recent months. From size and speed to distance of close approach, know all about these asteroids.asteroid 2024 CE7: DetailsThe first asteroid to pass Earth today has been designated Asteroid 2024 CE7 by NASA…

NASA says that the orbits of asteroids can be changed by Jupiter's massive gravity and by occasional close encounters with planets like Mars or other objects. These accidental encounters can knock asteroids out of the main belt and hurl them into space in all directions across the orbits of the other planets. One such occurrence is set to take place today, February 23, as one asteroid is expected to pass by Earth. Know the details of this close encounter.Asteroid 2024 CL3: DetailsAn asteroid, given the designation of…

2024 has continued the trend of the past year, with asteroid approaches on most days. NASA, with the help of its advanced ground and space-based telescopes, has shed light on four asteroids that are set to pass Earth at close distances today, February 22. While none of these space rocks pose a threat to life on Earth, their close approaches serve as a reminder of the threat posed by these space rocks and the need to continuously monitor them in their orbits. Check out the details of the close approaches below.Asteroid…

January 2024 was filled with numerous asteroid approaches, and February is set to continue the trend. But how do these asteroids get spotted? When NASA's telescopes track a new Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA), astronomers measure the asteroid's observed positions in the sky and report them to the Minor Planet Center. The Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) then uses that data to determine the asteroid's most likely orbit around the Sun, according to NASA. Using its advanced tech, NASA has shed light on as many as…

Utilizing SOFIA data, researchers have identified water molecules on asteroid surfaces, marking a significant step in understanding water’s distribution and its role in the solar system’s formation and potential for supporting life. Future studies with the James Webb Space Telescope aim to expand this knowledge by examining more celestial bodies. Credit: NASA/Carla Thomas/Southwest Research InstituteThe FORCAST instrument on SOFIA discovered water on asteroids that were previously considered dry.Scientists from the…

Our Solar System is a collection of objects from planets and moons to comets and asteroids. It's thought there are upwards of 1 million asteroids orbiting the Sun and it was thought that any water present on them should have evaporated long ago.A recent study using data from the SOFIA infrared telescope discovered water on the asteroids Iris and Massalia.Among the million or so asteroids, Iris is 199 km (124 miles) in diameter making it larger than about 99 percent of other asteroids. It orbits the Sun within the…

With the help of its advanced technology, NASA has shed light on an asteroid that is expected to pass Earth today, February 13. It is one of the many space rocks that will, and some already have, flown past the planet in recent weeks. While these asteroids can sometimes come even closer to Earth than the Moon, most of them do not pose any threat and pass by relatively safely. Still, the space agencies continue to monitor their orbits for any potential collision scenarios. Know all about the close encounter with the…

NASA defines asteroids as ancient rocky, airless remnants left over from the early formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. Through various experiments, scientists have known that while asteroids have the potential to cause catastrophic damage if they impact Earth, these objects can also become a resource hub. Space agencies keep a check on the orbits of these space rocks to avoid a potential collision scenario. They have also developed technology to track these space rocks in their orbits, and even…

Fresh off of its first asteroid encounter that revealed a bonus space rock, Lucy is now ready for the big leagues. The NASA spacecraft began maneuvering its way to Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids, traveling to a farther orbit in deep space in order to reach the Jovian system.Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their ViewOn Wednesday, Lucy fired its main engine for the first time in space as the first step in a series of maneuvers to change the velocity of the spacecraft so that it can reach the…

Earth is set to witness a series of asteroids fly pasts in the…