Asteroids
Latest about Asteroids
![This image shows the asteroid Dinkinesh and its satellite as seen by the Lucy Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (L’LORRI) as NASA's Lucy Spacecraft departed the system.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eCbX46rnAhj2AjbdqWy4yH-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eCbX46rnAhj2AjbdqWy4yH-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eCbX46rnAhj2AjbdqWy4yH-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eCbX46rnAhj2AjbdqWy4yH-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eCbX46rnAhj2AjbdqWy4yH-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eCbX46rnAhj2AjbdqWy4yH-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eCbX46rnAhj2AjbdqWy4yH-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eCbX46rnAhj2AjbdqWy4yH-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Newfound 'moon' around asteroid Dinkinesh is actually two tiny moons touching
By Joanna Thompson published
Additional images from NASA's Lucy mission reveal that the "moon" orbiting asteroid Dinkinesh is actually a contact binary, made of two smaller moons touching.
![This image shows the "moonrise" of the satellite as it emerges from behind asteroid Dinkinesh as seen by the Lucy Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (L'LORRI), one of the most detailed images returned by NASA's Lucy spacecraft during its flyby of the asteroid binary. This image was taken at 12:55 p.m. EDT (1655 UTC) Nov. 1, 2023, within a minute of closest approach, from a range of approximately 270 miles (430 km). From this perspective, the satellite is behind the primary asteroid.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fyCAP6UPkSwxsWVpGkGyrP-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fyCAP6UPkSwxsWVpGkGyrP-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fyCAP6UPkSwxsWVpGkGyrP-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fyCAP6UPkSwxsWVpGkGyrP-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fyCAP6UPkSwxsWVpGkGyrP-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fyCAP6UPkSwxsWVpGkGyrP-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fyCAP6UPkSwxsWVpGkGyrP-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fyCAP6UPkSwxsWVpGkGyrP-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
NASA flyby of "Dinky" asteroid reveals hidden moon
By Brandon Specktor published
NASA's Lucy spacecraft has found a hidden asteroid "moon" swirling around the larger main belt asteroid Dinkinesh, affectionately known as Dinky.
![An artist impression of Earth quasi-satellite Kamo`oalewa near the Earth-Moon system.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LUy6diK6LsKmCZsJ3g7jhY-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LUy6diK6LsKmCZsJ3g7jhY-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LUy6diK6LsKmCZsJ3g7jhY-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LUy6diK6LsKmCZsJ3g7jhY-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LUy6diK6LsKmCZsJ3g7jhY-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LUy6diK6LsKmCZsJ3g7jhY-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LUy6diK6LsKmCZsJ3g7jhY-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LUy6diK6LsKmCZsJ3g7jhY-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
A chunk of the moon appears to be orbiting near Earth, new study suggests
By Ben Turner published
The asteroid Kamo'oalewa may have been ejected by a massive impact on Earth's moon, a new simulation has revealed.
![OSIRIS-REx curation team members at NASA’s Johnson Space Center begin the process of removing and flipping the TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Mechanism) from the avionics deck of the mission's science canister.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FnguPE2AvXpvUU6mWnX4vJ-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FnguPE2AvXpvUU6mWnX4vJ-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FnguPE2AvXpvUU6mWnX4vJ-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FnguPE2AvXpvUU6mWnX4vJ-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FnguPE2AvXpvUU6mWnX4vJ-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FnguPE2AvXpvUU6mWnX4vJ-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FnguPE2AvXpvUU6mWnX4vJ-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FnguPE2AvXpvUU6mWnX4vJ-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
NASA is locked out of its OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample because of 2 faulty fasteners
By Monisha Ravisetti published
NASA is struggling to open a capsule containing precious asteroid samples from the OSIRIS-REx mission. Luckily, there is plenty of material to study on the outside of the container.
![Illustration of a rocky asteroid belt with a bright sun in the distance](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4WBkuUqDUNHPSXaVGUetsb-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4WBkuUqDUNHPSXaVGUetsb-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4WBkuUqDUNHPSXaVGUetsb-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4WBkuUqDUNHPSXaVGUetsb-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4WBkuUqDUNHPSXaVGUetsb-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4WBkuUqDUNHPSXaVGUetsb-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4WBkuUqDUNHPSXaVGUetsb-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4WBkuUqDUNHPSXaVGUetsb-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Nearby asteroid may contain elements 'beyond the periodic table', new study suggests
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Naturally occurring superheavy elements beyond those listed in the periodic table could potentially explain why asteroid 33 Polyhymnia is so dense, new research suggests.
![NASA's DART at the Didymos System.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sa92KtrnNFbfPc5ehQjLzS-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sa92KtrnNFbfPc5ehQjLzS-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sa92KtrnNFbfPc5ehQjLzS-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sa92KtrnNFbfPc5ehQjLzS-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sa92KtrnNFbfPc5ehQjLzS-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sa92KtrnNFbfPc5ehQjLzS-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sa92KtrnNFbfPc5ehQjLzS-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sa92KtrnNFbfPc5ehQjLzS-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Asteroid that collided with NASA spacecraft is behaving unexpectedly, high school class discovers
By Brandon Specktor published
Asteroid Dimorphos, which NASA intentionally hit with a rocket during its DART mission in September 2022, is behaving in unpredicted ways.
![OSIRIS-REx launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 411 rocket.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PuJyPVjwP75Zwacqbkg9de-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PuJyPVjwP75Zwacqbkg9de-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PuJyPVjwP75Zwacqbkg9de-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PuJyPVjwP75Zwacqbkg9de-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PuJyPVjwP75Zwacqbkg9de-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PuJyPVjwP75Zwacqbkg9de-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PuJyPVjwP75Zwacqbkg9de-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PuJyPVjwP75Zwacqbkg9de-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
What is OSIRIS-REx? Everything you need to know about the 1st NASA spacecraft to land on an asteroid
By Ben Turner published
OSIRIS-REx is due to make its return to Earth on Sept. 24. Here's everything you need to know about the mission and what it may reveal about the beginning — and the potential end — of life on Earth.
![The red dirt of the Australian outback seen from above, with scattered scrubs casting long shadows](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9QvSEKsjzGbb4Cr2W5vXNn-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9QvSEKsjzGbb4Cr2W5vXNn-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9QvSEKsjzGbb4Cr2W5vXNn-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9QvSEKsjzGbb4Cr2W5vXNn-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9QvSEKsjzGbb4Cr2W5vXNn-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9QvSEKsjzGbb4Cr2W5vXNn-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9QvSEKsjzGbb4Cr2W5vXNn-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9QvSEKsjzGbb4Cr2W5vXNn-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
The largest asteroid impact crater on Earth is lurking beneath Australia, new evidence suggests
By Andrew Glikson published
Geophysical evidence suggests there is a massive, magnetized structure deep beneath Australia. Experts think it could be the remnants of the largest meteor crater on Earth.
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