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.

NPR's weekly science roundup highlights three stories: unusually loud birds, research on how eating with company affects us, and new findings from asteroid samples. The roundup gathers recent developments in nature, behavior, and space research into a single digest for general readers.

NPR's weekly science roundup highlights three stories: research on unusually loud birds, findings on how eating in company changes the dining experience, and updates on asteroid samples returned to Earth. The roundup bundles recent studies and discoveries into one digest for general readers interested in science news.

Japan's Hayabusa2 asteroid probe has lost the last of its functioning engines, leaving the spacecraft without a propulsion system. The probe, which already returned samples from asteroid Ryugu to Earth, was on an extended mission. JAXA is expected to assess the failure and weigh options for the craft's future, with the exact impact on its remaining scientific goals still to be confirmed.

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.

A new set of policy design notes examines how asteroid and lunar mining ventures could be taxed when profits return to Earth. With commercial space mining moving from concept to early development, project teams are being urged to plan for unresolved questions: which jurisdiction taxes off-world extraction, how to value space resources, and whether existing treaties leave room for national levies. Analysts say clear rules could unlock investment, while ambiguity risks stalling projects.

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.

NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission brought samples of asteroid Bennu back to Earth, and analyses show the space rock contains material from both the inner and outer reaches of the Solar System. Researchers describe Bennu as a kind of 'Frankenstein' asteroid, assembled from fragments with very different origins, offering new clues about how the Solar System formed.

Space-mining company AstroForge says it intends to let artificial intelligence run an entire mission autonomously using its Solo system. If successful, it would be one of the first deep-space missions operated end to end by AI rather than ground controllers, a notable step for autonomous spacecraft operations and for the company's asteroid-mining ambitions.

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.

The sole remaining functioning ion engine aboard Japan's Hayabusa2 probe has failed, according to reports citing the space agency. The unmanned spacecraft is on an extended mission toward a new target asteroid after successfully returning samples from asteroid Ryugu to Earth in December 2020. The engine failure raises questions about whether the probe can complete its planned journey.

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 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.

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.