The threat from space rock 2024 YR4 has surpassed that of Apophis, an asteroid feared by scientists 20 years ago. The danger remains low, but experts are estimating the damage that could be done.
Tag: Asteroids
Dante Lauretta on Life After Asteroid Bennu and OSIRIS-REx
Dante Lauretta, the planetary scientist who led the OSIRIS-REx mission to retrieve a handful of space dust, discusses his next final frontier.
Centuries of Stargazing Leave Jesuit Names Written in the Heavens
The latest list of approved labels for asteroids includes nods to three more scholars of the order, as well as a pope, challenging the idea that science and religion make awkward partners.
Newly Discovered Asteroid Passes Close to Earth
First detected just days ago, 2023 BU approached within 2,200 miles of our planet’s surface before moving on.
Fireball Flashes Above Ontario and Parts of the U.S.
The bright meteor was the sixth object detected in space before striking Earth, the European Space Agency said.
Military Memo Adds to Possible Interstellar Meteor Mystery
The U.S. Space Command seemed to confirm a claim that a meteor from outside the solar system had entered Earth’s atmosphere, but other scientists and NASA are still not convinced.
Astronomers Find a New Trojan Asteroid Sharing Earth’s Orbit
The Trojan asteroid 2020 XL5, which follows the same path around the sun as our planet, was revealed only after a decade of searching.
How a Nuclear Bomb Could Save Earth From a Stealthy Asteroid
An atomic blast is not the preferred solution for planetary defense, but 3-D models are helping scientists prepare for a worst-case scenario.
Fossil Site Reveals Day That Meteor Hit Earth and, Maybe, Wiped Out Dinosaurs
A jumble of entombed plants and creatures offers a vivid glimpse of the apocalypse that all but ended life 66 million years ago.