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Mars’ Moons Phobos and Deimos Could Be Asteroid Debris, New Study Reveals
New research proposes that Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos, could have originated from an asteroid torn apart by the planet’s gravity. Simulations show that this shredded asteroid could have formed a ring around Mars, eventually coalescing into the moons. The theory is being tested through the upcoming Mars Moons Exploration mission, which could...
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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 Apophis Could Experience Surface Changes Due to Earth’s Gravity During 2029 Flyby
The asteroid Apophis, named after the ancient Egyptian god of chaos, is set to pass extremely close to Earth in 2029, potentially causing seismic activity and landslides on its surface due to Earth's gravity. These changes could alter Apophis’ surface, providing a rare opportunity to observe asteroid dynamics in real-time. A team from Johns Hopki...
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Earth’s Temporary Second Moon 2024 PT5 Bids Farewell as It Exits Orbit
On 29 September 2024, Earth briefly welcomed asteroid 2024 PT5 as a second moon. Discovered by NASA's ATLAS, this small asteroid will exit Earth's orbit by mid-November 2024. Its fleeting presence offers astronomers valuable insights into tracking mini-moons and potential asteroid threats. As scientists explore these transient companions, they unco...
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Asteroid Bennu Examines Potential Fifth Force and Dark Matter Connection
Research on asteroid Bennu reveals no evidence of a potential fifth force that could explain dark matter. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission tracked Bennu’s orbit with exceptional accuracy, allowing scientists to examine for subtle deviations. This study provides insight into the unknown forces in the universe and suggests that further investigation of ...
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Research Reveals Three Young Asteroid Families as Main Sources of Earth’s Meteorites
A recent study reveals that three asteroid families—the Karin, Koronis, and Massalia—are responsible for around 70% of the meteorites that land on Earth. These families, formed from past collisions in the main asteroid belt, have a higher number of fragments due to their relatively young age. The findings shed light on the origins of meteorites...
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New Mini-Moon 2024 PT5: A Major Step Towards Space Mining Opportunities
The newly discovered mini-moon, 2024 PT5, entered Earth's orbit on September 29, 2024, and will remain until November 25. This small asteroid, measuring around 10 metres, provides a unique opportunity for researchers to study near-Earth objects and explore the viability of space mining. Experts believe that asteroids contain precious metals, which ...
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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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Dwarf Planet Ceres Once Hosted a Muddy Ocean Below Its Icy Surface
Recent research indicates that Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt, likely harboured a muddy ocean beneath its icy crust. Advanced computer simulations suggest that its surface features and gravity measurements point to a past rich in ice. With its proximity to Earth, Ceres presents a promising target for further exploration, making it t...
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Weather May Delay Mission To Study Asteroid Damaged By NASA Spacecraft
The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) deliberately crashed into the pyramid-sized asteroid Dimorphos roughly 11 million kilometres from Earth.
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Asteroids Could Be Used To Prepare Meals For Future Astronauts: Study
. A study published in The International Journal of Astrobiology suggests that astronauts could use asteroids to meet their nutritional needs.
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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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Mars’ Moons Phobos and Deimos Could Be Asteroid Debris, New Study Reveals
New research proposes that Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos, could have originated from an asteroid torn apart by the planet’s gravity. Simulations show that this shredded asteroid could have formed a ring around Mars, eventually coalescing into the moons. The theory is being tested through the upcoming Mars Moons Exploration mission, which could...
-
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 Apophis Could Experience Surface Changes Due to Earth’s Gravity During 2029 Flyby
The asteroid Apophis, named after the ancient Egyptian god of chaos, is set to pass extremely close to Earth in 2029, potentially causing seismic activity and landslides on its surface due to Earth's gravity. These changes could alter Apophis’ surface, providing a rare opportunity to observe asteroid dynamics in real-time. A team from Johns Hopki...
-
Earth’s Temporary Second Moon 2024 PT5 Bids Farewell as It Exits Orbit
On 29 September 2024, Earth briefly welcomed asteroid 2024 PT5 as a second moon. Discovered by NASA's ATLAS, this small asteroid will exit Earth's orbit by mid-November 2024. Its fleeting presence offers astronomers valuable insights into tracking mini-moons and potential asteroid threats. As scientists explore these transient companions, they unco...
-
Asteroid Bennu Examines Potential Fifth Force and Dark Matter Connection
Research on asteroid Bennu reveals no evidence of a potential fifth force that could explain dark matter. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission tracked Bennu’s orbit with exceptional accuracy, allowing scientists to examine for subtle deviations. This study provides insight into the unknown forces in the universe and suggests that further investigation of ...
-
Research Reveals Three Young Asteroid Families as Main Sources of Earth’s Meteorites
A recent study reveals that three asteroid families—the Karin, Koronis, and Massalia—are responsible for around 70% of the meteorites that land on Earth. These families, formed from past collisions in the main asteroid belt, have a higher number of fragments due to their relatively young age. The findings shed light on the origins of meteorites...
-
New Mini-Moon 2024 PT5: A Major Step Towards Space Mining Opportunities
The newly discovered mini-moon, 2024 PT5, entered Earth's orbit on September 29, 2024, and will remain until November 25. This small asteroid, measuring around 10 metres, provides a unique opportunity for researchers to study near-Earth objects and explore the viability of space mining. Experts believe that asteroids contain precious metals, which ...
-
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 ...
-
Dwarf Planet Ceres Once Hosted a Muddy Ocean Below Its Icy Surface
Recent research indicates that Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt, likely harboured a muddy ocean beneath its icy crust. Advanced computer simulations suggest that its surface features and gravity measurements point to a past rich in ice. With its proximity to Earth, Ceres presents a promising target for further exploration, making it t...
-
Weather May Delay Mission To Study Asteroid Damaged By NASA Spacecraft
The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) deliberately crashed into the pyramid-sized asteroid Dimorphos roughly 11 million kilometres from Earth.
-
Asteroids Could Be Used To Prepare Meals For Future Astronauts: Study
. A study published in The International Journal of Astrobiology suggests that astronauts could use asteroids to meet their nutritional needs.
-
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.
