asteroids

Asteroid 2024 YR4, discovered in December 2024, has drawn attention from NASA and space watchers worldwide after early calculations suggested a small but nonzero chance it could hit Earth in December 2032. The roughly 40-metre-wide rock briefly topped impact-risk monitoring lists, and astronomers have been refining its orbit as it moves away from view.

French science outlet Futura reports that scientists are examining whether a nuclear detonation could be used to save Earth, most likely by deflecting a dangerous asteroid on a collision course with the planet. The idea, long confined to Hollywood films like Armageddon, is now being seriously studied by researchers, who are running tests and simulations on what they call the unthinkable scenario.

New findings suggest asteroid Bennu, a near-Earth object studied by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, may have originated much closer to the Sun than previously believed, challenging existing models of how the solar system's early materials were distributed. Scientists say the asteroid's composition could indicate it formed in a warmer region before migrating outward.

NASA's mission to asteroid Psyche remains in the spotlight as the spacecraft travels toward the metal-rich object between Mars and Jupiter. The mission aims to study what may be the exposed core of an ancient planetesimal, offering clues about how rocky planets like Earth formed. Interest continues as the spacecraft progresses on its journey toward a planned arrival.

NASA's Psyche spacecraft is in the news again. The mission, launched to study the metal-rich asteroid Psyche between Mars and Jupiter, is being highlighted by NASA Science, prompting renewed public interest in the spacecraft and its journey through deep space toward its asteroid target.

Astronomers have identified a newly discovered near-Earth object, asteroid 2026 SA8, which is making a close approach to our planet. Observers stress the flyby is entirely safe, with no risk of impact. Space enthusiasts and astronomy outlets are following the object's trajectory as it passes near Earth.

New reporting says asteroid Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid studied closely by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, may have originated in a region of the solar system that scientists did not previously expect. The finding could change how researchers understand Bennu's composition and the early solar system's history.

New analysis of tiny grains from asteroid Bennu suggests the samples hold clues about how Jupiter influenced the formation and arrangement of the early Solar System. The findings point to material preserved from the Solar System's infancy, offering scientists a rare record of conditions during planet formation. Researchers say the grains could refine models of how giant planets shaped the distribution of rocky material.

New reporting says asteroid Bennu, the near-Earth object studied by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, likely originated in an unexpected region of the early solar system rather than the main asteroid belt where scientists assumed it formed. The findings could reshape understanding of how the solar system's building blocks were distributed and delivered water and organic material to Earth.

A developer has launched a real-time Solar System visualization that renders roughly 526,000 asteroids alongside every tracked artificial satellite. The project surfaced on Hacker News under a Show HN post, where users are examining how it handles such large datasets and live orbital data. It is the latest in a string of interactive space-mapping tools drawing attention from the programming community.

A science news roundup connects an ancient Alaskan village with the naming of an asteroid after parody musician Weird Al Yankovic. The segment covers archaeology and astronomy stories in one digest, drawing attention to how odd cultural references and ancient sites share the week's science headlines.