Tag: Planetary Defense
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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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How Asteroids Spin in Space and Safe Deflection Strategies
Understanding asteroid spin: the tug-of-war between collisions and internal friction Asteroids don’t all rotate the same way. Some spin smoothly like a top, others tumble chaotically, and a few seem to drift through space with unpredictable wobble. Recent work presented at the Europlanet Science Congress in Helsinki sheds light on why this happens and what…
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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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How Asteroids Spin in Space—and How We Can Use That to Save Earth
Understanding asteroid spin: a balance of forces Asteroids come in a wide range of shapes and spin states. Some rotate smoothly like a top, while others tumble chaotically. Recent research presented at the Europlanet Science Congress in Helsinki sheds light on what drives these different spin patterns. By examining data from the European Space Agency’s…
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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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Aeroplane-Sized Asteroids Zip By Earth: NASA JPL Tracks Incoming Objects
Overview: NASA JPL Monitors a Busy Near-Earth Neighborhood Researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which tracks near-Earth objects (NEOs), said a handful of small asteroids are on fast approaches to Earth. While none pose an immediate threat, the close-quarters flybys remind scientists why continuous monitoring is essential. JPL’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS)…
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Close-Area Mystery: 9.8-Foot Asteroid 2025 TF Zips Past Earth in Surprise Close Encounter
Overview: A Tiny Visitor Skims Past Earth In a rare, almost casual brush with our planet, a tiny asteroid roughly the size of a fridge to a small car—measuring between 3.2 and 9.8 feet across—sped past Earth at a proximity that caught researchers by surprise. The European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed that the close approach…
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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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Close shave: 9.8-foot asteroid 2025 TF narrowly misses Earth, spotted hours later
Asteroid 2025 TF: a very small visitor with a timed surprise Astronomers confirmed a surprising close encounter with a tiny asteroid known as 2025 TF. Although it registered no threat to Earth, the event drew attention to how many small space rocks zip past our planet every year without immediate notice. ESA researchers categorized the…