Articles tagged with Asteroids
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft captured images of material being ejected from asteroid Bennu's surface, revealing three discrete events of particle ejection. The authors suggest micro-meteorite impacts and dehydration as possible causes, with implications for the asteroid's evolution.
Researchers analyzed Ryugu asteroid's impact craters to understand its geological history. The study revealed that the eastern hemisphere was formed earlier than the western hemisphere, with more craters found at lower latitudes.
The mission detected 54 impacts from micrometeoroids, mostly from short-period comets with Jupiter-determined orbits. The findings help refine dust models used in various studies, including planet formation and spacecraft impact risks.
Astronomers using ESO's SPHERE instrument have observed Hygiea, the fourth largest asteroid in the belt, and found it could be classified as a dwarf planet due to its spherical shape. The team's observations put Hygiea's diameter at over 430 km.
A new study has confirmed that a massive asteroid impact led to the extinction of dinosaurs and much of life on Earth. The impact caused rapid ocean acidification, which lasted for tens of thousands of years before life forms recovered and the carbon cycle reached a new equilibrium.
Researchers from Lund University found that a massive asteroid impact 470 million years ago led to a unique ice age and increased biodiversity in the inner solar system. The study suggests that dust from such an event could be used to cool the planet and mitigate climate change.
A new study suggests that a giant asteroid collision 466 million years ago caused an ancient ice age by releasing massive amounts of extraterrestrial dust into the atmosphere, leading to global cooling. This phenomenon allowed life to adapt and thrive in changing temperatures.
Scientists confirm scenario that dinosaurs died due to global cooling after asteroid impact, with rocks recording wildfires and sulfur absence within 24 hours. The research provides the most detailed look yet into the aftermath of the catastrophe.
Researchers analyzed core samples from the Chicxulub impact crater, revealing that top layers contained soil biomarkers suggesting a tsunami brought terrestrial material back to the site. The study also found evidence of impact-induced wildfires and a lack of sulfur-rich evaporites, implying a massive release of sulfate aerosols.
Images taken by Hayabusa2's lander on Ryugu's surface show rocks bearing similarities to primitive meteorites called carbonaceous chondrites, supporting theories that the asteroid formed during a cataclysmic event. The findings also reveal an unusual lack of fine particles or dust on the surface.
Researchers at Arizona State University have discovered the largest known impact crater in the US, which was formed 35 million years ago and lies buried beneath the Chesapeake Bay. The crater's age was determined using a new dating technique, providing valuable insights into the Earth's history.
Researchers at Washington State University have improved the software used to track thousands of near-Earth asteroids and comets, reducing modeling time from months to just hours. This breakthrough enables scientists to better predict asteroid orbits and potential collisions with Earth.
Scientists uncover precise timing of a large-scale collision on Vesta, explaining its lopsided shape and differentiation into crust, mantle, and metallic core. The study provides a confident framework for understanding Vesta's geological timeline, shedding light on protoplanet formation and the early Solar System.
Researchers at Arizona State University have detected water in samples from the asteroid Itokawa, which suggests that impacts early in Earth's history may have delivered as much as half of our planet's ocean water. The team used ASU's NanoSIMS technology to analyze tiny mineral grains and found they were enriched in water compared to o...
Astronomers use thermal wavelengths to spot near-Earth objects, providing critical details for defensive strategies. This technique enables the calculation of energy required to nudge an object away from Earth's trajectory, shedding light on the solar system's formation.
A team of researchers discovered a primitive class of meteorite containing a slice of carbon-rich material similar to extraterrestrial dust particles thought to have originated in comets near the outer edges of the Solar System. This finding provides insights into the Solar System's architecture and formation.
Astronomers used asteroid occultations to measure the smallest apparent size of a star on the night sky, revealing the diameter of a giant star and a sun-like star. The new method provides ten times better resolution than standard lunar occultation methods.
A tiny piece of a comet has been discovered inside a primitive meteorite, providing insights into the solar system's structure and evolution. The finding is significant as it reveals details about how our solar system took shape during its early stages.
Researchers discovered the diameter of a giant red giant star 2,674 light-years away and a sun-like star at 700 light-years, setting a record for the smallest star measured. The team used asteroid occultations to calculate the stars' sizes with high accuracy.
Researchers propose that metallic asteroids could have erupted volcanoes spewing liquid iron, with signs of 'ferrovolcanism' potentially detectable in iron meteorites. The study suggests NASA's Psyche mission may uncover evidence of past eruptions on the asteroid.
Scientists have discovered a unique fossil site in North Dakota that preserves the remains of hundreds of fish and other organisms killed instantly by a massive asteroid impact 66 million years ago. The site, dubbed Tanis, provides conclusive evidence of the impact's devastating effects on Earth's ecosystems.
Asteroid Gault, one of only a handful to be caught disintegrating, has been observed in clear images from the Hubble Space Telescope. The object's two narrow tails indicate it is slowly undergoing self-destruction, releasing material into space.
Asteroid Gault, a well-known space rock, has begun slowly disintegrating as it develops comet-like tails. The newly observed event suggests that asteroids are dynamic and active worlds, prone to spin-up processes that can lead to disintegration.
Astronomers have observed the disintegration of asteroid 6478 Gault using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and other observatories. The asteroid's rapid spinning has caused it to shed material, resulting in two narrow tails of dusty debris streaming from its surface.
Researchers used computer simulations to discover Jupiter was formed four times further from the sun than its current position and migrated over 700,000 years. The Trojan asteroids' asymmetry provided key evidence for this migration theory.
The Hayabusa2 mission provides valuable insights into the composition and history of asteroid Ryugu, helping researchers understand the presence or absence of essential materials for life. The study reveals that Ryugu is a dry asteroid, which challenges current models of the early solar system.
The Hayabusa2 mission has provided new insights into the composition and origin of the Ryugu asteroid, revealing it to be a porous 'rubble pile' with a highly porous interior and low density. The asteroid's surface is also characterized by hydrated minerals, which are ubiquitous across its dark surface.
The study finds that Bennu exists in a delicate balance between two competing forces, its wild spin creating a competition between gravity and centrifugal acceleration. This balance affects the asteroid's long-term evolution and potential demise.
A Southwest Research Institute-led team has discovered that the surface geology on asteroid Bennu is older than expected, with large impact craters and fractured boulders indicating ages of hundreds of millions of years. The OSIRIS-REx mission revealed ancient features on Bennu's surface while also showing signs of recent resurfacing.
A Southwest Research Institute-led team discovered evidence of abundant water-bearing minerals on the surface of asteroid Bennu using OSIRIS-REx spectral data. The findings are consistent with meteorites found on Earth and provide clues to the distribution and abundance of water in the early solar system.
The OSIRIS-REx mission revealed unexpected discoveries on asteroid Bennu, including particle plumes and a rugged terrain. The team adjusted their flight plans due to the rough surface, which challenges their sample collection strategies.
Researchers found a fine haze of cosmic dust over Mercury's orbit, forming a ring some 9.3 million miles wide. They also identified the likely source of dust at Venus' orbit: a group of never-before-detected asteroids co-orbiting with the planet.
Scientists have observed that asteroid Bennu's rotation period is getting shorter by about 1 second every 100 years, a change that could lead to dramatic changes in the space rock. This acceleration is likely due to the YORP effect, which causes asteroids to spin faster or slower as sunlight hits them.
Scientists model dinosaur species distribution in North America to show they were adaptable and not declining before the meteorite, contrary to previous theories. The study finds a range of habitats could support dinosaur groups at the end of the Cretaceous, but these areas are less likely to preserve fossils.
A Johns Hopkins study using a new computer modeling method simulates asteroid collisions and finds that larger objects are not as easily broken as previously thought. Instead, asteroids retain significant strength after impact due to the formation of a damaged core.
Researchers at UCF have created standards for simulated extraterrestrial surface material, allowing for accurate comparisons of test results across studies. The standardized simulant has a high fidelity match with a real meteorite, making it valuable for companies doing asteroid mining and testing.
Researchers used high-precision dating methods to study the timing and impact of Deccan Traps volcanism on dinosaur extinction. The studies suggest that massive volcanic eruptions could have dramatically altered Earth's climate, triggering mass extinctions before the Chicxulub asteroid impact.
A volunteer astronomer found an ancient white dwarf star, LSPM J0207, ringed by dust and debris. The discovery challenges current models of planetary systems and may provide insights into the distant future of our solar system.
The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) has discovered over 1,100 supernovae, two black holes, and 50 near-Earth asteroids since its operations began in March 2018. The facility is also conducting a systematic study of transients in galaxy nuclei, aiming to catch stars being ripped apart by supermassive black holes.
The Zwicky Transient Facility has discovered over 1,100 supernovae and 50 near-Earth asteroids in its first operations. The facility's advanced camera surveys the northern skies every three nights, capturing fleeting cosmic events previously impossible to detect.
Researchers found that ancient asteroid impacts played a crucial role in creating the early evolved crust on Earth, which later gave rise to continents. The impact melts produced layered magmatic intrusions and made the crust more evolutionarily complex.
A team of scientists analyzed lunar craters and found a drastic change in asteroid impact rates around 290 million years ago. This period saw an increase in asteroid impacts, with the rate being 2.6 times higher than before.
The AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prizes for Excellence in Science Books recognize outstanding science writing and illustration for children. The winners include Elizabeth Suneby, Elizabeth Rusch, Roma Agrawal, and Mary Kay Carson for their books on sustainable science, asteroid research, building design, and hands-on science.
A new study found the number of asteroid collisions with the Earth and moon has increased by up to three times over the past 290 million years. Researchers studied lunar craters using thermal data and images to determine their ages, revealing a surprising similarity between the two bodies' impact records.
The Japanese infrared satellite AKARI has detected hydrated minerals containing water in a number of asteroids, providing insight into the distribution of water in our solar system. The study reveals that C-type asteroids were formed by the agglomeration of rocks and water ice, followed by aqueous alteration and dehydration.
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has made groundbreaking observations of asteroid Bennu, revealing the presence of water molecules and hydrated minerals. The findings confirm that Bennu is an excellent specimen for the mission, which aims to return a sample of surface material to Earth in 2023.
Researchers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center are developing machine learning algorithms to analyze petabytes of data, extract new patterns and correlations, and improve science discoveries. The technology also helps monitor spacecraft health, prevent catastrophic failures, and assist engineers in designing new missions.
Astrophysicists from Far Eastern Federal University studied the linear polarization of sunlight scattered by asteroid Phaethon, applying the Umov effect to its research. They discovered a correlation between reflectivity and polarization, shedding light on this phenomenon in small Solar System bodies.
Scientists discovered that extremely strong vibrations in the Earth allow rock to flow like a liquid for a crucial few minutes after impact. This 'acoustic fluidization' process enables the formation of mountainous ring structures within the crater's center.
Researchers at UCF developed a scientifically based method for creating Martian and asteroid soil simulants. The team published their findings in the journal Icarus and is now selling the simulant, which can be used for experiments on Earth.
Researchers affiliated with São Paulo State University have identified four extremely young asteroid families using a numerical simulation method. The newly discovered families are estimated to be less than 7 million years old and were dated using the backward integration method, which is precise for young families.
Astronomers used the VLBA to study the effects on radio waves coming from a distant galaxy when an asteroid passed in front of it. They measured the size and shape of the asteroid, improving the accuracy of its orbital path calculation.
Researchers at Southwest Research Institute studied the Patroclus-Menoetius binary asteroid pair and found that its existence indicates an earlier dynamical instability. This instability pushed Uranus and Neptune outwards, scattering small bodies into the Kuiper Belt, where they formed the Trojan asteroids.
Japanese researchers from Osaka University analyzed Hayabusa particles to determine the age of asteroid Itokawa, finding it formed 4.6 billion years ago and was destroyed 1.5 billion years later. The study used precise isotope analyses to clarify the chronology of the asteroid's evolution.
A new review detects mini-moons, small asteroids temporarily captured in Earth's orbit, which can provide interesting science and technology testbeds. The advent of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) will verify their existence and track their paths around our planet.
A new study found that most asteroids in the inner asteroid belt originate from five or six ancient minor planets, with at least 85% of them tracing their origins to these primordial bodies. This discovery provides a more robust understanding of the evolutionary history of asteroids and the materials that form them.
Researchers used the Pirka Telescope to observe Phaethon's reflected light polarization at various angles, revealing strongly polarized light that challenges previous assumptions. The findings suggest that Phaethon's surface may be darker than expected, potentially due to a lower albedo or larger grains on its surface.
A team of astronomers led by Marco Micheli and Karen Meech found that Oumuamua was not slowing down due to gravitational forces alone, pointing to non-gravitational perturbations similar to those experienced by comets. Despite initial classification as an asteroid, the object's trajectory and behavior are more consistent with a comet.
Researchers found that up to 40-50% of the spectral signal on Ceres could be explained by organics, a much higher concentration than previously reported. The findings raise questions about the source of the material, with two competing possibilities: internal production or delivery by an impact from an organic-rich comet or asteroid.
A new study analyzes ancient fish remains to reveal a 5°C rapid temperature increase following the Chicxulub asteroid impact. The findings suggest that temperatures did not cool for roughly 100,000 years after the event.