Asteroid Impact
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Asteroids Impacting Neutron Stars May Be the Cause of Fast Radio Bursts
Research suggests asteroid impacts on neutron stars may be the cause of mysterious fast radio bursts (FRBs). These collisions release enormous energy and match observed FRB frequency. Scientists believe interstellar objects colliding with neutron stars could account for their rate and occurrence, while repeating FRBs may stem from asteroid belts. O...
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Asteroid Detected Hours Before Earth Impact, Creates Fireball Over Siberia
On December 3, 2024, a small asteroid, C0WEPC5, measuring about 27 inches in diameter, was detected just hours before entering Earth's atmosphere. The asteroid disintegrated harmlessly over Siberia, creating a bright fireball. This marked the fourth "imminent impactor" event of the year, with three others recorded over Berlin, Hawaii, and the Phili...
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Can We Defend Earth from Asteroids? Here's What You Need to Know
Efforts to protect Earth from asteroid impacts have made significant strides, notably with NASA’s DART mission, which successfully altered the orbit of the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos in 2022. This achievement marked a key advancement in planetary defence, demonstrating that asteroid deflection is a viable strategy. However, the success of DART al...
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Asteroid That Exploded Above Niagra Falls Confirmed to Be the Smallest Space Rock Ever Measured
In November 2022, asteroid 2022 WJ1 exploded above Niagara Falls in a green fireball, making it the smallest space rock ever measured. Detected hours before impact, the asteroid provided valuable insights into asteroid tracking and analysis. Researchers utilised telescopes and meteor cameras to determine its size and composition, setting a preceden...
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An Asteroid Burned Up Over California Just Hours After Being Spotted
On October 22, 2024, asteroid 2024 UQ was detected just hours before entering Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean, near California. The ATLAS survey detected it shortly before impact, but delayed tracking data prevented immediate monitoring. The European Space Agency’s Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre later confirmed the asteroid's e...
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Apophis Asteroid Flyby in 2029: Earth's Gravitational May Impact Asteroid's Surface
Asteroid 99942 Apophis, named after the ancient Egyptian god of darkness, is set to pass incredibly close to Earth in 2029, at just 32,000 km. While there is no risk of a collision, scientists are keen to study the asteroid’s interaction with Earth's gravity. Research led by planetary scientist Ronald Ballouz suggests that this flyby may cause si...
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Asteroid Strikes Earth Hours After Detection, 3rd 'Imminent Impactor' Of 2024
The asteroid was first observed on October 22 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey in Hawaii.
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Taurid Meteor Stream Unlikely to Contain Dangerous Asteroids, New Study Suggests
A recent study led by Quanzhi Ye, an astronomer at the University of Maryland, reveals that the Taurid Meteoroid Complex, a debris stream linked to past Earth impacts, poses less danger than previously thought. Ye's team found fewer large asteroids in the stream, reducing the risk of a catastrophic collision with Earth. While these findings offer r...
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Hera Spacecraft Embarks on Mission to Study Asteroid Redirected by NASA in 2022
The Hera spacecraft has successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, embarking on an international mission to study the asteroid Dimorphos, which was altered in course by NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) in 2022. Expected to reach its target by December 2026, Hera will examine the impact crater left by the DART mission and deploy two ...
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Study Reveals Ant Agriculture Began 66 Million Years Ago
A recent study reveals that ant agriculture originated 66 million years ago, following the asteroid impact that led to the dinosaurs' extinction. This event allowed fungi to flourish in the aftermath, as they thrived on decaying plant matter. It was found that while the initial partnership formed post-impact, ants did not develop advanced farming t...
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Nuclear X-rays Could Deflect Asteroids and Protect Earth, Study Suggests
Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories have discovered that exploding a nuclear bomb near an asteroid may produce X-rays powerful enough to push it off course. Instead of blowing the asteroid apart, the method involves vaporising its surface to alter its trajectory. Using the Z Machine, the world’s most powerful X-ray source, they successf...
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Could Earth Have Had Rings Like Saturn? Study Suggests Asteroid Breakup and Cooling Climate
Scientists have proposed that Earth may once have had a ring system similar to Saturn’s, formed by an asteroid breakup 466 million years ago. This ring may have triggered global cooling, contributing to the Hirnantian Ice Age. Evidence includes impact craters near the equator and meteorite debris in sedimentary rocks.
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Asteroid Apophis May Still Have a Small Chance of Hitting Earth in 2029, Study Reveals
Recent simulations suggest a very small chance that asteroid Apophis could be deflected onto a collision course with Earth before its close approach in 2029. Although current data points to a safe pass, the risk remains, especially if another space object were to strike Apophis. The odds are extremely low, but a final verdict won’t be available u...
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6 Dangerous Asteroids On Collision Course With Earth, First One May Hit In October
Asteroid Bennu, discovered in 1999, currently poses the greatest risk of impacting our planet.
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Video: Asteroid Burns Up In Earth's Atmosphere, Lighting Up Philippine Sky
A small asteroid, 2024 RW1, burned up in Earth's atmosphere over Luzon Island, Philippines, after being discovered just hours earlier by astronomers in Arizona.
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Asteroids Impacting Neutron Stars May Be the Cause of Fast Radio Bursts
Research suggests asteroid impacts on neutron stars may be the cause of mysterious fast radio bursts (FRBs). These collisions release enormous energy and match observed FRB frequency. Scientists believe interstellar objects colliding with neutron stars could account for their rate and occurrence, while repeating FRBs may stem from asteroid belts. O...
-
Asteroid Detected Hours Before Earth Impact, Creates Fireball Over Siberia
On December 3, 2024, a small asteroid, C0WEPC5, measuring about 27 inches in diameter, was detected just hours before entering Earth's atmosphere. The asteroid disintegrated harmlessly over Siberia, creating a bright fireball. This marked the fourth "imminent impactor" event of the year, with three others recorded over Berlin, Hawaii, and the Phili...
-
Can We Defend Earth from Asteroids? Here's What You Need to Know
Efforts to protect Earth from asteroid impacts have made significant strides, notably with NASA’s DART mission, which successfully altered the orbit of the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos in 2022. This achievement marked a key advancement in planetary defence, demonstrating that asteroid deflection is a viable strategy. However, the success of DART al...
-
Asteroid That Exploded Above Niagra Falls Confirmed to Be the Smallest Space Rock Ever Measured
In November 2022, asteroid 2022 WJ1 exploded above Niagara Falls in a green fireball, making it the smallest space rock ever measured. Detected hours before impact, the asteroid provided valuable insights into asteroid tracking and analysis. Researchers utilised telescopes and meteor cameras to determine its size and composition, setting a preceden...
-
An Asteroid Burned Up Over California Just Hours After Being Spotted
On October 22, 2024, asteroid 2024 UQ was detected just hours before entering Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean, near California. The ATLAS survey detected it shortly before impact, but delayed tracking data prevented immediate monitoring. The European Space Agency’s Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre later confirmed the asteroid's e...
-
Apophis Asteroid Flyby in 2029: Earth's Gravitational May Impact Asteroid's Surface
Asteroid 99942 Apophis, named after the ancient Egyptian god of darkness, is set to pass incredibly close to Earth in 2029, at just 32,000 km. While there is no risk of a collision, scientists are keen to study the asteroid’s interaction with Earth's gravity. Research led by planetary scientist Ronald Ballouz suggests that this flyby may cause si...
-
Asteroid Strikes Earth Hours After Detection, 3rd 'Imminent Impactor' Of 2024
The asteroid was first observed on October 22 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey in Hawaii.
-
Taurid Meteor Stream Unlikely to Contain Dangerous Asteroids, New Study Suggests
A recent study led by Quanzhi Ye, an astronomer at the University of Maryland, reveals that the Taurid Meteoroid Complex, a debris stream linked to past Earth impacts, poses less danger than previously thought. Ye's team found fewer large asteroids in the stream, reducing the risk of a catastrophic collision with Earth. While these findings offer r...
-
Hera Spacecraft Embarks on Mission to Study Asteroid Redirected by NASA in 2022
The Hera spacecraft has successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, embarking on an international mission to study the asteroid Dimorphos, which was altered in course by NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) in 2022. Expected to reach its target by December 2026, Hera will examine the impact crater left by the DART mission and deploy two ...
-
Study Reveals Ant Agriculture Began 66 Million Years Ago
A recent study reveals that ant agriculture originated 66 million years ago, following the asteroid impact that led to the dinosaurs' extinction. This event allowed fungi to flourish in the aftermath, as they thrived on decaying plant matter. It was found that while the initial partnership formed post-impact, ants did not develop advanced farming t...
-
Nuclear X-rays Could Deflect Asteroids and Protect Earth, Study Suggests
Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories have discovered that exploding a nuclear bomb near an asteroid may produce X-rays powerful enough to push it off course. Instead of blowing the asteroid apart, the method involves vaporising its surface to alter its trajectory. Using the Z Machine, the world’s most powerful X-ray source, they successf...
-
Could Earth Have Had Rings Like Saturn? Study Suggests Asteroid Breakup and Cooling Climate
Scientists have proposed that Earth may once have had a ring system similar to Saturn’s, formed by an asteroid breakup 466 million years ago. This ring may have triggered global cooling, contributing to the Hirnantian Ice Age. Evidence includes impact craters near the equator and meteorite debris in sedimentary rocks.
-
Asteroid Apophis May Still Have a Small Chance of Hitting Earth in 2029, Study Reveals
Recent simulations suggest a very small chance that asteroid Apophis could be deflected onto a collision course with Earth before its close approach in 2029. Although current data points to a safe pass, the risk remains, especially if another space object were to strike Apophis. The odds are extremely low, but a final verdict won’t be available u...
-
6 Dangerous Asteroids On Collision Course With Earth, First One May Hit In October
Asteroid Bennu, discovered in 1999, currently poses the greatest risk of impacting our planet.
-
Video: Asteroid Burns Up In Earth's Atmosphere, Lighting Up Philippine Sky
A small asteroid, 2024 RW1, burned up in Earth's atmosphere over Luzon Island, Philippines, after being discovered just hours earlier by astronomers in Arizona.
