Articles tagged as Asteroids | Smithsonian Magazine

New Research

Ancient Asteroid Collision Is Still Raining Space Rocks Down on Earth

A new study shows that today’s meteorites considerably differ from those of the ancient past

January 25, 2017

The asteroid Vesta, explored by NASA's Dawn spacecraft in 2011 and 2012

The space rock passed by at about half the distance between our planet and the moon

January 10, 2017

An artist’s conception of the Lucy spacecraft flying by the Trojan asteroid Eurybates (left) and Psyche, the first mission to a metal asteroid (right).

Though the new missions have exciting prospects, some scientists aren’t thrilled by the decision

January 6, 2017

Nördlingen is located in a crater in southern Germany.

Europe

This German Town Is Embedded with Millions of Tiny Diamonds

Scientists estimate that Nördlingen and the surrounding area contain approximately 72,000 tons of the gemstone

December 23, 2016

New Research

Never Fear, an Oceanic Asteroid Impact Wouldn’t Cause Apocalyptic Tidal Waves

But it could have long-term effects on the climate

December 15, 2016

Illustration of NASA's 2005 Deep Impact mission

Think Big

Scientist Warns We’re Unprepared for a Comet Strike

NASA researcher Joseph Nuth proposes that we build and store two spacecraft to deal with potential comet or asteroid strikes

December 15, 2016

Asteroid 2016 VA just before it passed into the Earth's shadow.

The short video was tricky to shoot

November 3, 2016

Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off on NASA's final space shuttle mission from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on July 8, 2011.

Some leaps, launches and grand plans for the future

October 13, 2016

Today, NASA will launch the spacecraft which will travel to the nearby asteroid Bennu

September 8, 2016

An artist's impression of a planet forming through accretion.

Journey to the Center of Earth

To Uncover Earth’s Origins, Scientists Must Look Beyond It

Missions to study the other planetary bodies in our solar system could help solve the mystery of how our own came to be.

July 29, 2016

Help astronomers track asteroid 2010 NY65 as it streaks across the sky on Asteroid Day

With just a click, you can help astronomers learn more about two nearby asteroids

June 30, 2016

Cool Finds

Meet Three of Earth’s Tiny Celestial Buddies

A handful of quasi-satellites, mini-moons and Trojan asteroids tag along with Earth as it whizzes around the sun

June 20, 2016

An illustration of asteroid 2016 HO3's orbit.

New Research

Scientists Spot Tiny Asteroid Tagging Along Behind The Earth

It’s our very own “quasi-moon”

June 17, 2016

Cool Finds

Will Luxembourg Lead the Race for Space Mining?

The tiny nation announced its private industry partners for asteroid mining

May 9, 2016

Cool Finds

Amateur Astronomers Capture an Asteroid or Comet Colliding With Jupiter

The object recently exploded in the atmosphere of the solar system’s largest planet

March 30, 2016

The bright spots of Occator Crater are shown in enhanced color in this view from NASA's Dawn spacecraft.

New Research

New NASA Images Shed Light on Ceres’ Bright Spots

Yet the dwarf planet serves up fresh mysteries

March 23, 2016

NASA's OSIRIS-REx project will send a craft to a near-Earth asteroid and take a sample to study back on Earth.

Cool Finds

NASA Wants You to Send Your Art to an Asteroid

The agency is looking for creative contributions as it readies its mission to study and sample a near-Earth asteroid

February 22, 2016

One of the world’s deadliest missiles could become a planetary life-saver

February 18, 2016

A meteorite discovered in the Australian ouback on New Year's Eve.

Cool Finds

4.5 Billion-Year-Old Meteorite Found in the Australian Desert

This 3.7 pound rock could help scientists learn about Earth’s origins

January 8, 2016

Darth Vader could have saved a few dollars by building it around an asteroid

December 17, 2015