Astronomers at the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory have made a groundbreaking discovery, identifying the fastest-spinning asteroid to date. The asteroid, designated 2025 MN45, measures 710 meters (2,297 feet) in length, more than twice the height of the Eiffel Tower, and completes a rotation on its axis every 1. 88 minutes. According to Discover Magazine, this remarkable finding was made possible by the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) Camera, the largest digital camera ever built, as reported in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory's advanced technology has enabled scientists to detect thousands of asteroids, including 19 that are categorized as super or ultra-fast-rotating, with spin times of less than 2. 2 hours or 5 minutes, respectively. Asteroids, small chunks of rock that have been floating through the Solar System since its formation approximately 4. 6 billion years ago, are of great interest to scientists. With around 1. 45 million known asteroids, the majority are thought to be composed of smaller rocks held together by gravity, known as "rubble pile" asteroids. These fragile structures make them vulnerable to fragmentation.
2025 MN45 might not sound particularly catchy or noteworthy, but it has piqued astronomers' interest for one very specific reason: it is the fastest...Related perspectives: Check here
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