Near-earth Asteroids
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Rubin Observatory Discovers Over 11,000 Asteroids Within Weeks of Imaging
The Vera Rubin Observatory has discovered over 11,000 new asteroids within weeks of early observations. The findings highlight its ability to rapidly map the solar system and improve tracking of near-Earth objects for planetary defence.
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NASA’s Webb Telescope Confirms Asteroid 2024 YR4 Will Safely Pass the Moon in 2032
Infrared observations from the James Webb Space Telescope refined the orbit of asteroid 2024 YR4, confirming it will safely pass about 21,200 km above the Moon in December 2032. The new data eliminates earlier estimates that suggested a small chance of a lunar impact.
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Tiny Asteroid 2025 TF Zooms Past Earth Undetected, Closer Than Satellites
A small asteroid named 2025 TF surprised astronomers after flying only 265 miles above Antarctica, lower than many satellites. Detected post-passage by ESA, it underscores the challenge of spotting small, fast-moving space rocks before they come close to Earth.
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Asteroid Belt Is Slowly Fading, Study Finds
A recent study shows the asteroid belt is slowly losing material due to gravitational forces and collisions, with implications for Earth's past and future impact risks.
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China's Tianwen 2 Sends Stunning Images Of Earth And Moon From Deep Space: See Pics
The mission aims to collect samples from the near-Earth asteroid 2016 HO3 and explore the main-belt comet 311P.
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Groundbreaking Vera Rubin Observatory Reveals First Images Of Distant Galaxies
The team behind the long-awaited Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile published their first images on Monday, revealing breathtaking views of star-forming regions as well as distant galaxies.
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NASA Partners With SpaceX To Launch NEO Surveyor, a Mission To Detect Asteroid Threats
NASA has selected SpaceX for the launch of its NEO Surveyor spacecraft in 2027. The mission, valued at $100 million, will use a Falcon 9 rocket to deploy the spacecraft to the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1. The infrared telescope will help detect and track hazardous near-Earth objects, including difficult-to-spot dark asteroids. This mission builds on...
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NASA Confirms Asteroid 2024 YR4 Will Not Hit Earth, Risk Reduced to Zero
NASA has reassured the public that asteroid 2024 YR4 no longer poses any threat to Earth. Initially, the asteroid had a 1-in-32 chance of impact, making it a Level 3 risk on the Torino Scale. However, new observations have reduced the probability to zero. The asteroid will make close flybys in 2028 and 2032, providing scientists with an opportunity...
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NASA Lowers Risk of Asteroid 2024 YR4 Impact
NASA has significantly lowered the risk of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth in 2032. Initial estimates placed the impact probability at 1 in 32, but updated calculations have reduced it to just 1 in 360 (0.28 percent). Experts believe the risk will continue to decline as more data is collected. Despite being the riskiest asteroid on NASA’s Sentry ...
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James Webb Telescope to Study Potentially Hazardous Asteroid 2024 YR4
Asteroid 2024 YR4, identified in December 2024, has a 2.3% chance of Earth impact in December 2032. Due to uncertainties in ground-based size estimates, JWST will conduct infrared observations in March and May to determine its true dimensions. The European Space Agency estimates its width at 55 metres, but it could be as large as 90 metres. The fin...
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Scientists Predict Devastation If Asteroid Bennu Strikes Earth In 2182
The rocky object called Bennu is classified as a near-Earth asteroid, currently making its closest approach to Earth every six years at about 186,000 miles (299,000 km) away.
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Tesla Roadster Mistakenly Classified as Near-Earth Asteroid
A recent error by the Minor Planet Center (MPC) mistakenly classified Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster as a near-Earth asteroid. The object, launched into space aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy in 2018, was briefly listed in the MPC’s database before the error was identified and corrected within hours. This incident highlights growing concerns about the ...
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Asteroid 2024 YR4 Has a Small but Notable Chance of Earth Impact in 2032
NASA scientists are closely monitoring asteroid 2024 YR4, a newly discovered 55-metre-wide object with a 1.2% chance of impacting Earth on December 22, 2032. If it collides, it could release energy equivalent to eight megatons of TNT, enough to cause serious regional damage. Currently ranked as a Level 3 threat on the Torino Scale, its classificati...
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Asteroid 2024 PT5 Linked to Lunar Surface, Reveals Planetary Defense Insights
Asteroid 2024 PT5, sized like a school bus, passed Earth in January at 1.1 million miles. Research suggests it originated from the moon, ejected thousands of years ago by an impact. Spectral analysis matched it to Apollo 14 lunar rocks, ruling out artificial origins. This is the second known lunar asteroid after 469219 Kamo’oalewa. The study hint...
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Karnal Students Recognised by NASA for Discovering Main Belt Asteroid TD40
12 students and two teachers from Dyal Singh Public School in Karnal have been honoured by NASA’s International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) for discovering a main belt asteroid, TD40. The team, under the guidance of Principal Sushma Devgun and Dr Kaveri Chauhan, also registered 11 near-Earth objects. Diksha, a Class XI student, was r...
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Rubin Observatory Discovers Over 11,000 Asteroids Within Weeks of Imaging
The Vera Rubin Observatory has discovered over 11,000 new asteroids within weeks of early observations. The findings highlight its ability to rapidly map the solar system and improve tracking of near-Earth objects for planetary defence.
-
NASA’s Webb Telescope Confirms Asteroid 2024 YR4 Will Safely Pass the Moon in 2032
Infrared observations from the James Webb Space Telescope refined the orbit of asteroid 2024 YR4, confirming it will safely pass about 21,200 km above the Moon in December 2032. The new data eliminates earlier estimates that suggested a small chance of a lunar impact.
-
Tiny Asteroid 2025 TF Zooms Past Earth Undetected, Closer Than Satellites
A small asteroid named 2025 TF surprised astronomers after flying only 265 miles above Antarctica, lower than many satellites. Detected post-passage by ESA, it underscores the challenge of spotting small, fast-moving space rocks before they come close to Earth.
-
Asteroid Belt Is Slowly Fading, Study Finds
A recent study shows the asteroid belt is slowly losing material due to gravitational forces and collisions, with implications for Earth's past and future impact risks.
-
China's Tianwen 2 Sends Stunning Images Of Earth And Moon From Deep Space: See Pics
The mission aims to collect samples from the near-Earth asteroid 2016 HO3 and explore the main-belt comet 311P.
-
Groundbreaking Vera Rubin Observatory Reveals First Images Of Distant Galaxies
The team behind the long-awaited Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile published their first images on Monday, revealing breathtaking views of star-forming regions as well as distant galaxies.
-
NASA Partners With SpaceX To Launch NEO Surveyor, a Mission To Detect Asteroid Threats
NASA has selected SpaceX for the launch of its NEO Surveyor spacecraft in 2027. The mission, valued at $100 million, will use a Falcon 9 rocket to deploy the spacecraft to the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1. The infrared telescope will help detect and track hazardous near-Earth objects, including difficult-to-spot dark asteroids. This mission builds on...
-
NASA Confirms Asteroid 2024 YR4 Will Not Hit Earth, Risk Reduced to Zero
NASA has reassured the public that asteroid 2024 YR4 no longer poses any threat to Earth. Initially, the asteroid had a 1-in-32 chance of impact, making it a Level 3 risk on the Torino Scale. However, new observations have reduced the probability to zero. The asteroid will make close flybys in 2028 and 2032, providing scientists with an opportunity...
-
NASA Lowers Risk of Asteroid 2024 YR4 Impact
NASA has significantly lowered the risk of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth in 2032. Initial estimates placed the impact probability at 1 in 32, but updated calculations have reduced it to just 1 in 360 (0.28 percent). Experts believe the risk will continue to decline as more data is collected. Despite being the riskiest asteroid on NASA’s Sentry ...
-
James Webb Telescope to Study Potentially Hazardous Asteroid 2024 YR4
Asteroid 2024 YR4, identified in December 2024, has a 2.3% chance of Earth impact in December 2032. Due to uncertainties in ground-based size estimates, JWST will conduct infrared observations in March and May to determine its true dimensions. The European Space Agency estimates its width at 55 metres, but it could be as large as 90 metres. The fin...
-
Scientists Predict Devastation If Asteroid Bennu Strikes Earth In 2182
The rocky object called Bennu is classified as a near-Earth asteroid, currently making its closest approach to Earth every six years at about 186,000 miles (299,000 km) away.
-
Tesla Roadster Mistakenly Classified as Near-Earth Asteroid
A recent error by the Minor Planet Center (MPC) mistakenly classified Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster as a near-Earth asteroid. The object, launched into space aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy in 2018, was briefly listed in the MPC’s database before the error was identified and corrected within hours. This incident highlights growing concerns about the ...
-
Asteroid 2024 YR4 Has a Small but Notable Chance of Earth Impact in 2032
NASA scientists are closely monitoring asteroid 2024 YR4, a newly discovered 55-metre-wide object with a 1.2% chance of impacting Earth on December 22, 2032. If it collides, it could release energy equivalent to eight megatons of TNT, enough to cause serious regional damage. Currently ranked as a Level 3 threat on the Torino Scale, its classificati...
-
Asteroid 2024 PT5 Linked to Lunar Surface, Reveals Planetary Defense Insights
Asteroid 2024 PT5, sized like a school bus, passed Earth in January at 1.1 million miles. Research suggests it originated from the moon, ejected thousands of years ago by an impact. Spectral analysis matched it to Apollo 14 lunar rocks, ruling out artificial origins. This is the second known lunar asteroid after 469219 Kamo’oalewa. The study hint...
-
Karnal Students Recognised by NASA for Discovering Main Belt Asteroid TD40
12 students and two teachers from Dyal Singh Public School in Karnal have been honoured by NASA’s International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) for discovering a main belt asteroid, TD40. The team, under the guidance of Principal Sushma Devgun and Dr Kaveri Chauhan, also registered 11 near-Earth objects. Diksha, a Class XI student, was r...
