Articles tagged with Asteroids
Astronomers have discovered a fourth giant planet in the HR8799 system, which is approximately seven times the mass of Jupiter. The system, consisting of four giant planets and two asteroid belts, is young compared to our solar system and may be on the verge of falling apart due to gravitational interactions.
Researchers pinpointed the exact date of a February 2009 asteroid collision using computer simulations and OSIRIS camera system images. The debris trail's three-dimensional shape, visible from a unique Rosetta space probe viewpoint, helped reconstruct the collision in detail.
Astronomers tracked a bizarre X-shaped object, dubbed P/2010 A2, for five months using Hubble. The object is expanding slowly and retained its X-shape even as the debris field expanded, revealing details about asteroid collisions.
A new study reveals that asteroid 65 Cybele contains water ice, challenging the earlier finding of organic molecules and water on asteroid 24 Themis. This discovery supports the theory that asteroids may have delivered water to Earth, potentially shaping our planet's formation.
Researchers found binary systems in the Kuiper Belt would be destroyed by Neptune's interaction, contradicting previous assumptions. The study suggests the region formed near its present location and remained undisturbed over the age of the solar system.
Researchers created a comprehensive catalog of large craters on the moon to study the chaotic early days of the inner solar system. The analysis suggests that larger projectiles dominated the bombardment, ending around 3.8 billion years ago.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have verified a theory that asteroid pairs are formed when small gravel-sized rocks separate from a larger asteroid through centrifugal force. The study, published in Nature, reveals that these 'separated asteroids' share the same orbit and demonstrate the existence of paired asteroid relationships.
Two amateur astronomers independently observed an asteroid impact on Jupiter, opening a potential giant research lab in space for planetary scientists. The initial observations could help understand the behavior of meteoroids and their effects on Jupiter's atmosphere.
A new study shows that sunlight drives asteroids to split in two and move far apart, forming binary and divorced binaries. The research suggests that many of these binaries likely originated from asteroid fission, with smaller asteroids separating at low velocities.
Researchers discovered that many binary asteroid pairs do not remain bound to each other but escape, forming two separate asteroids in orbit around the sun. The study showed a specific relationship between the larger and smaller members of the pair, with the smallest one always less than 60% of the size of its companion.
Asteroid 2008 LC18 is found in the L5 stability region of Neptune, with an estimated diameter of 100 kilometers. The discovery suggests a population of similar asteroids at L5, outnumbering those in the main asteroid belt.
Asteroid '(101955) 1999 RQ36' has a 0.00054 chance of colliding with Earth in 2182, according to researchers who used the Monte Carlo Method and line of variations sampling models. The asteroid's orbit is influenced by the Yarkovsky effect, which slightly modifies its path.
Researchers discovered water ice and organic molecules on asteroid 24 Themis, suggesting it may have delivered water to Earth 4 billion years ago. The findings support the theory that asteroids could have brought water to our planet after its formation.
Asteroid 24 Themis has been found to have a thin film of ice coating its surface, with complex, long-chained molecules detected as well. This suggests that water ice is abundant in the asteroid's interior and may be responsible for delivering water to Earth.
New research identifies Jupiter Family comets as the primary source of the zodiacal cloud's eerie glow, contradicting previous theories that pointed to asteroid dust.
The study of co-orbital motion in natural bodies, including asteroids and satellites, has significant research value. The authors have developed a new method to design and optimize LISA orbit with an extended applicable region of over 1000 years.
The asteroid impact hypothesis has gained overwhelming acceptance within the scientific community, and new evidence from ocean drilling and continental sites confirms its validity. The Chicxulub impact in Mexico is believed to have caused an abrupt and major decrease in productivity and species diversity at the K-Pg boundary.
Asteroid impacts over billions of years have left the Moon with a pockmarked surface, but a new crater may expose a portion of the lower crust. The Apollo Basin, formed by a smaller asteroid impact, measures 300 miles across and is believed to reveal the lunar crust's early history.
A panel of international experts confirms that an asteroid collision caused the Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction, which killed off the dinosaurs and over half of Earth's species. The Chicxulub asteroid impact triggered a global winter, causing widespread destruction and paving the way for mammals to dominate the planet.
Nannoplankton extinction correlates with latitude, with higher rates in the Northern Hemisphere. Toxic metals from the asteroid impact likely delayed recovery due to impaired photosynthesis and reduced nannoplankton reproduction.
Asteroids that come within a quarter of the distance between Earth and the moon experience seismic shakes strong enough to create fresh surface material. The finding helps answer decades-long questions about meteorite origins and opens a new field of asteroid seismology.
A UCLA-led study confirms Pallas, the second-largest asteroid, is a protoplanet due to its unique shape and color variation. The research reveals a dynamic surface with areas of dark and light, indicating internal changes, similar to those found on planets.
A team of researchers has found a rare meteorite in the Western Australian desert and tracked its orbit using a new camera network. The meteorite is composed of basaltic igneous rock and is believed to have formed deep in the inner Solar System, providing clues about the origins of the Solar System.
A team of scientists used cameras to capture fireballs streaking across the night sky, calculating its orbit and asteroid origin. The rare achondrite meteorite is from the inner asteroid belt, providing valuable insights into the solar system's evolution.
Numerical simulations show that comet-like objects in a disk outside the solar system were scattered into the outer asteroid belt during a violent phase of planetary evolution. The models suggest that dramatic upheaval occurred in the solar system around 3.9 billion years ago, affecting nearly every nook and cranny.
New research by Princeton University geoscientist Gerta Keller suggests that volcanoes, not an asteroid, were the likely culprits in the demise of the Earth's giant reptiles. The study found 'biotic evidence' and 'aftermath' sediments indicating a massive die-off occurred much later than previously thought.
Contrary to recent hypothesis, geologists argue that chevrons are not evidence of megatsunamis caused by asteroids or comets. Instead, they propose that similar formations can be explained by wind-blown deposits, supported by the presence of volcanic ash in similar locations.
A North Carolina State University researcher has developed a method to deflect asteroids by attaching a long tether and ballast to the incoming object, changing its center of mass and orbit. This system shows promise in altering the motion of an asteroid to miss hitting Earth.
Stereo will use a wide-field-of-view telescope to search for asteroids orbiting the region, which could be leftovers from a Mars-sized planet that formed billions of years ago. The mission aims to provide three-dimensional views of space weather and study its effects on Earth.
UK astronomers successfully observed the asteroid 2008 TC3 using the William Herschel Telescope on La Palma, collecting data that helped predict its impact and study its rare F-class composition. The results demonstrate the importance of asteroid research in mitigating potential impacts.
Researchers successfully identified an asteroid in space before it entered Earth's atmosphere, predicting its area of origin and arrival time. The event tested the society's response to a predicted impact, showcasing the ability to quickly evacuate danger zones and take cover.
Researchers calibrated laboratory analyses of a meteorite with telescopic observations of its precursor asteroid, providing new insights into asteroid compositions and origins. The study identified the asteroid as a ureilite, potentially originating from the same parent body.
The American Institute of Physics has announced the winners of its 2008 Science Writing Awards, honoring four individuals who have improved the public's understanding of physics and related sciences through their creative endeavors. The award recipients include two scientists, a journalist, and a children's book author.
Two rare meteorites from Antarctica reveal the presence of an ancient asteroid with a crust similar to Earth's continents. The discovery provides new insights into the formation of andesite crust in our Solar System, challenging traditional plate tectonics theories.
Two newly discovered meteorites from Antarctica have feldspar-rich rock called andesite, similar to those found on Earth. The rocks' age and chemical signature suggest they formed on an undifferentiated asteroid with a diameter over 100 kilometers, providing insights into the early stages of planetary formation.
Research reveals cosmic dust originates from Koronis asteroids, with analysis matching mineralogy and chemistry to chondrite meteorite samples. The study provides new insights into the earliest history of our solar system.
Researchers explore climate change through corals and bat guano, as well as the Mississippi Delta's complex history of uplift and subsidence. Additionally, a study reveals that mantle upwelling controls the depth of fast-spreading ridges, while asteroid dust found in Antarctic ice provides insight into the Koronis asteroids.
Scientists propose that sunlight increases or decreases the spin rate of asteroids, leading to moon formation through material slung off at the equator. This process exposes fresh material at the poles and coalesces into a satellite orbiting its parent.
Computer simulations support massive asteroid impact as explanation for Mars' hemispheric differences. The models suggest that an impactor about one-half to two-thirds the size of the Moon could have created the observed differences.
Scientists found tiny airborne carbon cenospheres near an asteroid impact site, formed when carbon deep in the Earth's crust was vaporized and created new structures in the atmosphere. The discovery suggests environmental circumstances were less dramatic than previously thought, challenging the long-held fire-on-Earth hypothesis.
Asteroid researchers used telescopes to identify three ancient asteroids that date back to the Solar System's formation. These 'prime candidates' contain calcium and aluminum-rich inclusions, providing insights into the earliest stages of the Solar System.
Arecibo Observatory will observe near-Earth asteroid TU24 on January 27-28 and February 1-4, using its powerful radar to gauge size, speed, and spin. The mission aims to map the object's surface in detail, providing valuable information about potentially hazardous near-Earth objects.
A study by Penn State researchers found that nearly all Caribbean land-breeding frog species, including coqui frogs, originated from a single ancient species that rafted on a sea voyage from South America. The discovery challenges previous theories of their arrival and reveals the surprising common ancestry of these species.
Astronomers have described the double asteroid Antiope in unprecedented detail, revealing its unique orbit and shape. The asteroid consists of two rubble-pile chunks of material, tidally locked and rotating around each other at the same speed as they orbit.
A team of astronomers has assembled the most complete picture yet of a pair of asteroids orbiting each other, thanks to combined observations from professionals and amateurs. The asteroid 90 Antiope is depicted as two slightly egg-shaped rubble piles locked in orbit, with uncertainties remaining from previous studies.
Cornell astronomers have confirmed that solar radiation and an asteroid's shape determine its rotation rate, a phenomenon known as the Yarkovsky-O'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack Effect. This effect can help explain the formation of binary asteroids by creating strong centrifugal forces.
A team of international researchers has found an asteroid whose rotation speed increases due to re-radiation of solar energy from its surface. The study confirms that non-gravitational forces play a crucial role in asteroid evolution and could potentially affect asteroid collisions with Earth.
A team of scientists observed the speeding up of an asteroid's rotation, showing it is due to the heating of its surface by the Sun. The YORP effect, a theoretical prediction, was directly detected in action on a small near-Earth asteroid.
Researchers have discovered a binary asteroid system where two asteroids orbit around each other, creating a unique and fascinating phenomenon. The larger object is spinning so fast that it has been flattened into a flying saucer shape, with the lowest points on the surface actually forming the highest ridges.
A recent study confirms that asteroids can be the source of Earth's meteorites due to space weathering. The process of high-energy ion bombardment and particle vaporization changes an asteroid's optical properties, making them similar to common meteorite samples.
Astronomers have found four stable groups of asteroids around the Sun: Kuiper Belt, Jupiter Trojans, main asteroid belt, and now Neptune Trojans. The new discoveries suggest a large population of high-inclination Neptune Trojans, which may have formed after giant planets settled into their orbits.
Researchers have discovered a surprising amount of carbon in the gas surrounding a young star, Beta Pictoris. The findings may indicate that asteroids and comets in this system could contain large amounts of organic material, which could have delivered building blocks of life to early Earth.
Scientists have discovered a rubble-pile asteroid, Itokawa, with a sea otter-like shape, consisting of loosely packed and porous rubble. The asteroid's structure provides critical information on its early evolution and potential threats to Earth.
Asteroid Itokawa is found to be a rubble pile, providing valuable clues on how the planets were formed. The confirmation has significant implications for theories of asteroid evolution and will lead to a better understanding of the early solar system.
Asteroid Itokawa's surface composition was determined by Brown University researcher Takahiro Hiroi, who linked it to LL chondrites, a common class of stony meteorites. The team also described the asteroid's diverse terrain, suggesting it may be an earlier stage of asteroid evolution and formation.
A palaeontologist proposes that gradual climate change caused most mass extinctions, including the Permian and Triassic events. This theory challenges the widely accepted asteroid impact hypothesis.
Astronomers have calculated the density of binary asteroid Patroclus, suggesting it is composed mostly of water ice covered by a patina of dirt. The team proposes that Patroclus and other Trojan asteroids may be dirty snowballs formed in the outer reaches of the solar system.
Researchers found that half of planetary collisions result in impactors bouncing off, leaving them significantly altered. These collisions can strip away atmospheres, crusts, and mantles, producing diverse asteroid populations.
Scientists have found evidence that dust from burning asteroids can influence local weather in Antarctica, forming clouds of micron-sized particles that reflect sunlight and cause cooling. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about asteroid dust's impact on the environment.
Astronomers have discovered a triple asteroid system, with minor planet 87 Sylvia and its twin moons Romulus and Remus. The asteroids were found using the NACO instrument at ESO's Very Large Telescope Array in Chile, revealing details about their orbits and composition.