Asteroids are rocky objects that orbit the sun, and although the vast majority of asteroids are harmless, there are often close shaves with our planet. Live Science is here to put asteroid threats into perspective and answer all of your asteroid-related questions, from whether an asteroid could destroy Earth to why asteroids and comets are such weird shapes.
Whether it’s the fastest-orbiting asteroid in our solar system, a 600-foot asteroid detected near Earth or NASA proving humanity can deflect killer asteroids with rockets, our expert writers and editors are on point to separate the potentially hazardous from the mostly harmless. So, for everything you need to know about the sizeable stones that share our solar system check out the latest asteroid news, features and articles.
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Latest about Asteroids
Enormous, mountain-size asteroid will be visible from Earth this weekend in rare 'once in a decade' event
The enormous near-Earth asteroid (887) Alinda has made its closest approach to our planet in decades, and it's about to peak in brightness in a rare once-in-a-decade event. Here's how to watch it live this weekend.
'Like nothing we've seen before': James Webb telescope spies a mysterious asteroid-comet hybrid lurking past Jupiter
The James Webb telescope has focused its attention on an oddball space rock lurking between Jupiter and Neptune. The unusual "centaur," named 2060 Chiron, has features of both comets and asteroids.
James Webb telescope spots more than 100 new asteroids between Jupiter and Mars — and some are heading toward Earth
Astronomers analyzing archival images from JWST have discovered an unexpectedly vast population of the smallest asteroids ever seen in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
'Spectacular' asteroid blazes over Siberia just hours after it was detected
Asteroid C0WEPC5 entered Earth's atmosphere at 1:15 a.m. local time on Dec. 4 over northeastern Siberia.
Massive, 'potentially hazardous' asteroid due to make closest-ever approach to Earth tonight — and you can watch it live
The stadium-sized asteroid 2020 XR is due to make its closest approach to Earth on record early on Dec. 4, and the encounter will be livestreamed for everyone to see.
'Fireball' meteor discovered hours before exploding above Niagara Falls was the smallest asteroid ever seen
An asteroid that fell to Earth and exploded above Canada in 2022 was only around 20 inches wide — the smallest space rock ever properly measured, researchers say.
Samples of 'alien' asteroid Ryugu are crawling with life — from Earth
Scientists have found microorganisms crawling over a sample retrieved from the 200 million-mile-distant asteroid Ryugu. But they almost certainly came from Earth.
Scientists trace origin of Earth's mysterious 'minimoon' days before it escapes into space for 30 years
A new study reveals that the asteroid 2024 PT5, which has been orbiting Earth for 2 months, may have a "lunar origin." However, it is about to break free from our planet, making it tricky to tell for sure.
An asteroid hit Earth just hours after being detected. It was the 3rd 'imminent impactor' of 2024
A small asteroid burned up in Earth's atmosphere off the coast of California just hours after being discovered and before impact monitoring systems had registered its trajectory.
'God of chaos' asteroid may be transformed by tremors and landslides during 2029 flyby of Earth, study finds
When the 'God of chaos' asteroid Apophis makes an ultraclose flyby of Earth in 2029, our planet's gravity may trigger tremors and landslides that totally change the asteroid's surface.
