There's probably a large space rock out there, somewhere, that has Earth in its crosshairs. Scientists have, in fact, spotted one candidate: Bennu, which has a small chance of banging into our planet in the year 2182.
For almost 20 years, a team of researchers has been preparing for such a scenario. Using a specially designed gun, they've repeatedly fired projectiles at meteorites and measured how the space rocks recoiled and, in some cases, shattered.
Geologists propose theory about a famous asteroid
The asteroid Vesta is the second largest asteroid in our solar system. With a diameter of about 330 miles, it orbits the sun between the planets Mars and Jupiter.
Asteroids have long played a part in building popular fascination with space. “Marooned off Vesta” was the first story published by American writer Isaac Asimov, the third story he wrote, appearing in the March 1939 issue of the science fiction magazine Amazing Stories.
Statisticians put odds of asteroid Bennu hitting Earth into perspective – Harvard Gazette
A mosaic image of the asteroid Bennu made by a NASA spacecraft, which was in close proximity to the asteroid for more than two years.
Recently NASA updated its forecast of the chances that the asteroid Bennu, one of the two most hazardous known objects in our solar system, will hit Earth in the next 300 years. New calculations put the odds at 1 in 1,750, a figure slightly higher than previously thought.
Asteroid the size of Golden Gate Bridge to fly by Earth in September - The Jerusalem Post
Astronomers discover solar system's fastest-orbiting asteroid
An astronomer at the Carnegie Institution for Science has just discovered a new asteroid, and it's the fastest-orbiting asteroid in our solar system — but speed is just one of the space rock’s strange attributes.
Unexplored space: Astronomers try to keep track of nearby asteroids so that we can avoid any collisions in space and, if possible, one day, prevent impacts with Earth.
See asteroid Pallas in the evening sky
Pallas, one of the brightest asteroids, and the second asteroid to be discovered, comes to opposition in September. Here's how to find it for yourself.
While too faint to be seen with the eyes alone, the minor planet will be easy to spot if you have binoculars and know just where to look.
Asteroid up to three times the size of Statue of Liberty heading for Earth's orbit - Daily Star
2021 NY1 is travelling at a speed of 20,915mph, but is expected to pass Earth at a safe distance of 930,487 miles.
Another of the asteroids being monitored by NASA, named 2021 QC1, has a smaller diameter of 71-160m.
Astronomer recruiting volunteers in effort to quadruple number of known active asteroids –
The study of active asteroids is a relatively new field of solar system science, focusing on objects that have asteroid-like orbits but look more like comets, with visual characteristics such as tails.
Because finding an active asteroid is such a rare event, fewer than 30 of these solar system bodies have been found since 1949, so there is still much for scientists to learn about them.
Furnish remembered, and with asteroid joins the heavens | News | seasidesignal.com
"This is a permanent honor," Young said. "This is not something to last for 50 years. This is going to last forever."
James Young, who discovered the asteroid in 2004 and named it after Jim Furnish at a ceremony in Gearhart.
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