Tag: Gaia DR3
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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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Model Explains Chaotic Asteroid Rotations with Gaia Data
Researchers Unveil a Unified Model for Asteroid Spin Astronomers have long puzzled over why many asteroids rotate in unpredictable, sometimes tumble-like motions, while others settle into steady spins. A recent study led by Wen-Han Zhou of the University of Tokyo, presented at a major planetary science meeting, offers a comprehensive framework that ties these rotational…
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New Model Theorizes Why Most Asteroid Rotations Turn Chaotic
Why Asteroid Spins Have Confounded Scientists For years, astronomers have observed asteroids rotating at a wide range of speeds, with many behaving oddly—tumbling instead of simply spinning around a single axis. Traditional theories could not fully explain why some asteroids slow down, while others tumble, nor why a surprising number are slower than expected. A…