Japan’s Hayabusa2 is heading to the smallest asteroid ever visited by a space mission
Hayabusa2's new target, asteroid 1998 KY26, is just 36 feet (11 meters) across, which will make landing on it challenging.
2 billion people will be able to see ‘God of Chaos’ asteroid Apophis when it buzzes Earth in April 2029
The 1,115-foot-wide (340 meters) asteroid Apophis will pass closer to Earth than many satellites fly in April 2029, giving scientists and stargazers a rare front-row seat.
Scientists find evidence of flowing water on Ryugu’s ancient parent asteroid. ‘It was a genuine surprise!’
Water may have flowed on the asteroid that birthed the space rock Ryugu a billion years after it formed, much later than previously thought, changing our perception of the early solar system.
Can we safely deflect a killer asteroid without making it worse? Only if we avoid the gravitational ‘keyhole,’ scientists say
If we slam an impactor into an asteroid in exactly the wrong spot, the space rock may pass through a "gravitational keyhole" that brings it to Earth.
Asteroid Bennu contains stardust that’s older than the solar system
"Bennu is a time capsule of the material that was throughout the solar system."
NASA puts asteroid Bennu under the microscope | Space photo of the day for Aug. 29, 2025
The near-Earth asteroid's microscopic surface tells a detailed story.
Scientists discover minerals in asteroid Ryugu that are older than Earth itself
Asteroid Ryugu is proving to be one of the most scientifically valuable time capsules in the solar system.
Spacecraft headed to DART asteroid crash site images 2 faint space rocks to boost planetary defense tactics
The techniques used to target the asteroids could also be employed in tracking hazardous asteroids and interstellar objects.
Solar farms could help find dangerous asteroids, scientist says
By transforming idle heliostats into asteroid detectors, scientists aim to develop a cost-effective method for spotting faint, fast-moving space rocks.
NASA or the Space Force: Who should protect Earth from dangerous asteroids?
NASA currently leads the nation's planetary defense efforts, but some are calling for the Space Force to take control.