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Asteroids

The latest news, images, features and stories on asteroids. Sometimes called 'minor planets', asteroids are essentially space rubble; giant rocks in a variety of sizes with most orbiting the sun between Mars and Jupiter in our solar system.

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Illustration of meteor impact on Earth

NASA gives fresh update on 'city killer' asteroid heading our way

Tech 5 days ago By Ben Lynch

Illustration of meteor impact on Earth

What a 3.5 billion-year-old meteor crater tells us about the Earth

Tech March 10, 2025 By Ben Lynch

Illustration of an asteroid approaching Earth.

NASA updates chances of ‘city killer’ asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth

World February 21, 2025 By Kyriakos Petrakos

A chilling video shows what might happen if an asteroid hits Earth in 2032, as scientists fear. Discovered in December, Asteroid 2024 YR4 is being closely monitored due to its potential to impact our planet. If the asteroid were to strike Earth, the energy released could be equivalent to 8 megatons of TNT, capable of devastating an area the size of Washington, D.C. The shocking visuals were created by Alvaro Gracia Montoya, who specialises in 3D animation under the name MetaBallStudios. He says: "I don't think it's going to happen, but certainly this kind of news generates a lot of speculation." Online reactions have included: "I guarantee they are already building bunkers underground" and "That won't happen because obviously Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck are going to go up there, drill a hole in the side and nuke it."

Chilling video shows what might happen if asteroid hits Earth in 2032

Tech February 21, 2025 By Luke Alsford

The largest asteroid event in human history

How an asteroid caused an explosion 1,000 times more powerful than Hiroshima

Tech February 21, 2025 By Josh Milton

Asteroid impact. Illustration of a large asteroid colliding with Earth on the Yucatan Peninsula in (what is modern day) Mexico. This impact is believed to have led to the death of the dinosaurs some 65 million years ago. The impact formed the Chicxulub crater, which is around 200 kilometres wide. The impact would have thrown trillions of tons of dust into the atmosphere, cooling the Earths climate significantly, which may have been responsible for the mass extinction. A layer of iridium- rich rock, known as the K pg boundary, is thought to be the remnants of the impact debris.

How to survive an asteroid impact as odds of 2024 YR4 hitting Earth increase

Tech February 20, 2025 By Luke Alsford

Did Nostradamus predict the 'city-killer' 2024 YR4 asteroid hitting Earth?

Tech February 19, 2025 By Josh Milton

3D model visualises what an asteroid hitting Earth in 2032 would look like

Nasa increases chance of 2024 YR4 asteroid hitting Earth yet again

Tech February 19, 2025 By Jen Mills

A chilling video shows what might happen if an asteroid hits Earth in 2032, as scientists fear. Discovered in December, Asteroid 2024 YR4 is being closely monitored due to its potential to impact our planet. If the asteroid were to strike Earth, the energy released could be equivalent to 8 megatons of TNT, capable of devastating an area the size of Washington, D.C. The shocking visuals were created by Alvaro Gracia Montoya, who specialises in 3D animation under the name MetaBallStudios. He says: "I don't think it's going to happen, but certainly this kind of news generates a lot of speculation." Online reactions have included: "I guarantee they are already building bunkers underground" and "That won't happen because obviously Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck are going to go up there, drill a hole in the side and nuke it."

Chilling video shows what might happen if asteroid hits Earth in 2032

Tech February 21, 2025 By Luke Alsford

Drastic solution may be needed to knock 'city killer' asteroid off course by 2032

Tech February 13, 2025 By Jen Mills

This image provided by NASA shows a view from orbit looking obliquely across the surface of the moon

The Moon could become our bodyguard and 'take the hit' of asteroid 2024 YR4

Tech February 12, 2025 By Jen Mills

Armageddon-style plan might actually save Earth from large asteroids

Chances of Statue of Liberty-sized asteroid hitting Earth in 2032 just increased

Tech February 7, 2025 By Josh Milton

A large Meteor burning and glowing as it hits the earth's atmosphere. 3D illustration.; Shutterstock ID 488993764; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Exact date newly-discovered 'city killer' asteroid could hit Earth revealed

Tech January 31, 2025 By Josh Milton

A NASA visualisation of asteroid (887) Alinda. An asteroid bigger than Manhattan is flying close by Earth. The space rock - named (887) Alinda - is so large it will be viewable with ordinary binoculars. With an estimated diameter of 4.2 km, the asteroid's January appearance sees it coming within a relatively cosmically close distance of 7,630,000 miles to us. However, the asteroid is not considered hazardous. While it is classified as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its proximity to our orbit, Alinda is not on a collision course with our planet. According to space-watching website Virtual Telescope, the asteroid is expected to peak in brightness on Sunday (12 Jan). They commented: "Considering all the asteroids coming closer than 15 million of kilometers, Alinda is one of the five largest ones in size from now until 2200." Manhattan is 2.3 miles wide at its widest point.

Two-mile wide asteroid to brush past Earth in hours - what would happen if it hit?

Tech January 12, 2025 By Josh Milton

Scientist stunned by unique asteroid-comet hybrid discovery like nothing seen before

Tech January 9, 2025 By Josh Milton

Psyche asteroid in space

What is Nasa planning to do with asteroid worth $10,000,000,000,000,000,000?

Tech November 20, 2024 By Hiyah Zaidi

Asteroid, fall of comet to earth, Armageddon disaster, danger meteorite. Huge fiery comet is flying in space towards Earth. 3d render. Elements of this image furnished by NASA. 3d render. https://visibleearth.nasa.gov/collection/1484/blue-marble

Mega meteorite four times the size of Mount Everest boiled Earth's oceans

Tech October 22, 2024 By Jen Mills

Can you still see the Draconid meteor shower tonight?

Tech October 9, 2024 By Danny Rigg

When will meteor showers light up the sky and where can you see them?

Tech October 8, 2024 By Danny Rigg

Asteroid towards planet earth in outer space, texture maps by NASA is used to make the planet in 3d software. ( https://visibleearth.nasa.gov/collection/1484/blue-marble?page=2 )

Armageddon-style plan might actually save Earth from large asteroids

Tech September 25, 2024 By Lucia Botfield

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