Tag: Asteroids
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New Gaia Data Sheds Light on Chaotic Asteroid Spins
Understanding the Mystery of Asteroid Rotations Asteroids are not simple spinning tops. A new study led by Wen-Han Zhou from the University of Tokyo leverages the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission data to decode why some asteroids spin smoothly around their largest axis while others tumble chaotically. Presented at the joint Europlanet Science Congress and…
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How Asteroids Spin and Where to Hit Them: New Insights from Gaia Data and Safe-Strike Mapping
Understanding asteroid spin: two forces at work Astronomers are uncovering why some asteroids rotate smoothly like a spinning top while others tumble chaotically. Two recent studies presented at the Europlanet Science Congress in Helsinki shed light on the physics behind asteroid rotation and how this knowledge can improve planetary defense strategies. One research team, led…
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NASA Monitors Aeroplane-Sized Asteroids Approaching Earth: What We Know
Overview: NASA-JPL Tracking Multiple Near-Earth Objects NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) monitors thousands of near-Earth objects (NEOs) to assess any potential impact risk. In today’s briefing, JPL reported several small asteroids passing near Earth, described as aeroplane-sized or smaller. Although these objects approach within astronomical distances, they pose no danger to the planet based on…
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Near-Earth Close Call: 9.8-Foot Asteroid 2025 TF Zoomed Past Earth
What happened with asteroid 2025 TF? An unusually small near-Earth object, measured between 3.2 and 9.8 feet across — roughly the size of a fridge or a small car — briefly skimmed Earth’s outskirts. The European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed the close approach, noting that the object, designated 2025 TF, posed no threat to the…
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A Billion-Year Secret: Liquid Water Shaped Ryugu, Shocking Scientists
New Evidence That Liquid Water Traveled Through Ryugu A storm of new findings from a team including researchers at the University of Tokyo suggests that liquid water once moved through the body of the asteroid that became the near-Earth Ryugu. What makes the discovery remarkable is the timing: this activity appears to have persisted more…
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Lunar Riches: Moon Craters Could Hold Platinum, Study Finds
Moon craters as a potential platinum treasure trove A new study published in Planetary and Space Science argues that minerals such as palladium, platinum, and rhodium could be dispersed across thousands of lunar impact craters. The researchers estimate that these metals could be found in a large fraction of the roughly 6,500 craters formed by…
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Discovering Earth’s Quasi-Moon: A Hidden Asteroid in Orbit
Introduction to Quasi-Moons Recent astronomical research has revealed the intriguing discovery of a new type of satellite known as a “quasi-moon” orbiting Earth. Unlike traditional moons, these celestial bodies often behave like asteroids but are captured by Earth’s gravitational pull. This fascinating phenomenon has garnered attention in the scientific community, especially due to the possibility…
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Discovery of Flowing Water on Ryugu’s Parent Asteroid
Introduction to Ryugu and Its Parent Asteroid In a groundbreaking study, scientists have revealed surprising evidence of flowing water on the parent asteroid of the near-Earth object (NEO) Ryugu. This discovery suggests that liquid water was present on the asteroid much later than previously thought, reshaping our understanding of the asteroid’s geological history and its…
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Evidence of Flowing Water on Ryugu’s Parent Asteroid
Introduction: A Surprising Discovery Recent research has unveiled an astonishing finding: liquid water flowed across the surface of the asteroid that birthed the near-Earth object (NEO) Ryugu. This revelation comes as a genuine surprise to scientists, as it challenges previous assumptions about the timeline of water presence in our solar system. The study indicates that…
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New Clues Unveiled on the Origin of Earth’s Water
Introduction to Earth’s Water Mystery The question of how Earth obtained its water has fascinated scientists for centuries. Recent research reveals that asteroids could hold more secrets about our planet’s origins than previously understood. In a groundbreaking study involving a tiny dust sample from the asteroid Ryugu, Swiss researchers have provided new insights that could…