Asteroid News & Features

This illustration shows the path of Asteroid 2013 LR6

Small Asteroid Between Earth and Moon

Small asteroid 2013 LR6 will safely fly past this evening at a distance of about 65,000 miles (105,000 kilometers) above Earth's surface.

Radar Movies Highlight Asteroid 1998 QE2 and Its Moon

Scientists working with NASA's Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, Calif., have released a second, longer, more refined movie clip of asteroid 1998 QE2 and its moon.

NASA Radar Reveals Asteroid Has Its Own Moon

A sequence of radar images of asteroid 1998 QE2 was obtained on the evening of May 29, 2013, by NASA scientists using a Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, Calif.

NASA Hosts News and Social Media Events Around this Week's Asteroid Pass

NASA invites people to participate in online and televised events May 30 to 31 about the agency's asteroid initiative and the Earth flyby of asteroid 1998 QE2.

NASA Administrator Visits JPL, Talks Asteroids

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden met with members of the asteroid initiative team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

Asteroid 1998 QE2 to Sail Past Earth Nine Times Larger Than Cruise Ship

Asteroid 1998 QE2 will get no closer than about 3.6 million miles at time of closest approach on May 31 at 1:59 p.m. Pacific (4:59 p.m. Eastern).

Three From JPL on Time Magazine 'Most Influential' List

On a new list of the 100 most influential people on Earth, three work at the same California address, where they've led projects to study things that are not on Earth.

How to Target an Asteroid

The hunt is on for methods to aim a spacecraft at an asteroid.

NASA-Funded Asteroid Tracking Sensor Passes Key Test

An infrared sensor that could improve NASA's future detecting and tracking of asteroids and comets has passed a critical design test.

Comet to Make Close Flyby of Red Planet in October 2014

New observations of comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) have allowed NASA's Near-Earth Object Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. to further refine the comet's orbit.

NASA Associate Administrator on Asteroid Initiative

The following are statements from the associate administrators of three NASA directorates.

NASA Scientists Find Moon, Asteroids Share History

NASA and international researchers have discovered that Earth's moon has more in common than previously thought with large asteroids roaming our solar system.

Goldstone Radar Snags Images of Asteroid 2013 ET

Scientists capture radar images of asteroid 2013 ET.

Comet PANSTARRS Rises to the Occasion Mid-March

A beautiful comet with a bulky name is making an appearance this month for lucky sky-watchers in some parts of the world.

NASA Releases Radar Movie of Asteroid 2012 DA14

An initial sequence of radar images of asteroid 2012 DA14 was obtained on Feb. 15/16, 2013, by NASA's 230-foot (70-meter) Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, Calif.

NASA Experts Discuss Russia Meteor in Media Teleconference Today

NASA experts will hold a teleconference for news media at 1 p.m. PST (4 p.m. EST) today to discuss a meteor that streaked through the skies over Russia's Urals region this morning.

Additional Details on the Large Feb. 15 Fireball over Russia

New data fill in some gaps in the story of a fireball that entered Earth's atmosphere near Chelyabinsk, Russia, on Feb. 15.

Near-Earth Asteroid Makes Preview Appearance

Asteroid 2012 DA14, set to make its closest approach to Earth on Feb. 15, is captured in early images from Australia.

NASA to Chronicle Close Earth Flyby of Asteroid

NASA Television will provide commentary starting at 11 a.m. PST (2 p.m. EST) on Friday, Feb. 15, during the close, but safe, flyby of a small near-Earth asteroid named 2012 DA14.

NASA to Host Feb. 7 Media Telecon on Asteroid Flyby

NASA will hold a media teleconference at 11 a.m. PST (2 p.m. EST), on Thursday, Feb. 7, to discuss an asteroid that will pass close, but safely, by Earth on Feb. 15.

Small Asteroid to Whiz Past Earth Safely

A small asteroid named 2012 DA14 will safely fly past Earth's outer ring of satellites on February 15.

NASA Rules Out Earth Impact in 2036 for Asteroid Apophis

NASA scientists at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory effectively have ruled out the possibility the asteroid Aphophis will impact Earth in 2036.

Herschel Spacecraft Eyes Asteroid Apophis

Scientists using the Herschel Space Observatory made new observations of asteroid Apophis as it approached Earth this past weekend.

NASA, ESA Telescopes Find Evidence for Asteroid Belt Around Vega

Astronomers have discovered what appears to be a large asteroid belt around the star Vega, the second brightest star in northern night skies.

Picture This: Vesta's Dark Materials in Dawn's View

A new study of images from NASA's Dawn mission examines remarkable, dark-as-coal material that speckles the surface of the giant asteroid Vesta.

Asteroid Toutatis Slowly Tumbles by Earth

Scientists have generated a series of radar data images of a three-mile-long (4.8-kilometer) asteroid that made its closest approach to Earth on Dec. 12, 2012.

What is Creating Gullies on Vesta?

Something is forming intriguing gullies on the giant asteroid Vesta. Scientists with NASA's Dawn mission are trying to figure out what could be creating these features.

Nine Radar Images of Asteroid 2007 PA8

Images of asteroid 2007 PA8 have been generated with data collected by NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar.

NASA Radar Images Asteroid 2007 PA8

Scientists working with NASA's 230-foot-wide (70-meter) Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, Calif., have obtained several radar images depicting near-Earth asteroid 2007 PA8.

Scientists Monitor Comet Breakup

Comet 168P/Hergenrother is breaking up, right before our very eyes.

Dawn Sees 'Young' Surface on Giant Asteroid

Like a Hollywood starlet constantly retouching her makeup, the giant asteroid Vesta is constantly stirring its outermost layer to present a young face.

NASA's WISE Colors in Unknowns on Jupiter Asteroids

Observations from NASA's WISE all-sky survey reveal new clues about Jovian Trojans, mysterious asteroids that orbit in front of and behind Jupiter in its path around the sun.

How to Hunt a Space Rock

A team of scientists from JPL needed some space. When a large fireball turned night into day over Battle Mountain, Nev. they knew they had their chance.

Giant Asteroid's Troughs Suggest Stunted Planet

Data from NASA's Dawn spacecraft suggest troughs sculpted around Vesta's middle are likely dropped blocks of terrain bounded by faults.

Dawn: Vesta Got Special Delivery of Hydrated Minerals

Observations by NASA's Dawn mission suggest that hydrated minerals were delivered to Vesta in a radically different way than how they were deposited on the moon.

Dawn Sees Hydrated Minerals on Giant Asteroid

NASA's Dawn spacecraft has revealed that the giant asteroid Vesta has its own version of ring around the collar.

Dawn has Departed the Giant Asteroid Vesta

Mission controllers received confirmation today that NASA's Dawn spacecraft has escaped from the gentle gravitational grip of the giant asteroid Vesta.

NASA's Dawn Prepares for Trek Toward Dwarf Planet

NASA's Dawn spacecraft is on track to become the first probe to orbit and study two distant destinations, to help scientists answer questions about the formation of our solar system.

NASA Releases Workshop Data and Findings on Asteroid 2011 AG5

Researchers anticipate that asteroid 2011 AG5, discovered in January 2011, will fly safely past and not impact Earth in 2040.

Dawn Mission Video Shows Vesta's Coat of Many Colors

A new video from NASA's Dawn mission reveals the dappled, variegated surface of the giant asteroid Vesta.

NASA Scientist Figures Way to Weigh Space Rock

A scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., has accurately determined the mass of a nearby asteroid from millions of miles away.

NASA Survey Counts Potentially Hazardous Asteroids

Observations from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) have led to the best assessment yet of our solar system's population of potentially hazardous asteroids.

NASA Dawn Mission Reveals Secrets of Large Asteroid

NASA's Dawn spacecraft provides the first orbital analysis of the giant asteroid Vesta, yielding new insights into its creation with terrestrial planets and Earth's moon.

NASA to Hold News Conference on Dawn Mission Results

NASA will host a news conference on Thursday, May 10, at 11 a.m. PDT (2 p.m. EDT) to present a new analysis of the giant asteroid Vesta using data from the agency's Dawn spacecraft.

Dawn Reveals Secrets of Giant Asteroid Vesta

Findings from Dawn reveal new details about the giant asteroid Vesta, including its varied surface composition, sharp temperature changes and clues to its internal structure.

Fireball Over California/Nevada: How Big Was It?

Scientists have a size estimate for an impressive fireball that was witnessed over California's Central Valley Sunday (4/22).

Dawn Gets Extra Time to Explore Vesta

NASA's Dawn mission has received official confirmation that 40 extra days have been added to its exploration of the giant asteroid Vesta.

Dawn Sees New Surface Features on Giant Asteroid

NASA's Dawn spacecraft has revealed unexpected details on the surface of the giant asteroid Vesta.

Asteroid 2011 AG5 - A Reality Check

Asteroid 2011 AG5 has been receiving a lot of attention lately because of a very unlikely scenario which would place it on an Earth-interception course 28 years from now.

Vesta Likely Cold and Dark Enough for Ice

Roughly half of the giant asteroid Vesta is expected to be so cold, with so little sunlight, that water ice could have survived there for billions of years.

Dawn Obtains First Low Altitude Images of Vesta

NASA's Dawn spacecraft has sent back the first images of the giant asteroid Vesta from its low-altitude mapping orbit.

New NASA Dawn Visuals Show Vesta's 'Color Palette'

New color data from NASA's Dawn mission give scientists an inside look at the chemical composition of giant asteroid Vesta.

NASA's Deep Impact Spacecraft Eyes the Future

NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft completed a 140-second firing of its onboard rocket motors on Thursday, Nov. 24.

Dawn Soars Over Asteroid Vesta in 3-D

Glide over the giant asteroid Vesta with NASA's Dawn spacecraft in a new 3-D video.

NASA Releases Updated Radar Movie of Asteroid 2005 YU55

NASA Scientists working with the Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, Calif., have released a second, longer, more refined movie clip of asteroid 2005 YU55.

NASA Releases Radar Movie of Asteroid 2005 YU55

Scientists working with the 230-foot-wide (70-meter) Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, Calif., have generated a short movie clip of asteroid 2005 YU55.

NASA Captures New Images of Large Asteroid Passing Earth

NASA's Deep Space Network antenna in Goldstone, Calif. has captured new radar images of Asteroid 2005 YU55 passing close to Earth.

NASA in Final Preparations for Nov. 8 Asteroid Flyby

NASA scientists will be tracking asteroid 2005 YU55 with antennas of the agency's Deep Space Network at Goldstone, Calif., as the space rock safely flies past Earth slightly closer than the moon's orbit on Nov. 8.

NASA Says Comet Elenin Gone and Should Be Forgotten

Latest indications are this relatively small comet has broken into even smaller, even less significant, chunks of dust and ice.

NASA Telescopes Help Solve Ancient Supernova Mystery

A mystery that began nearly 2,000 years ago, when Chinese astronomers witnessed what would turn out to be an exploding star in the sky, has been solved.

NASA's Dawn Science Team Presents Early Science Results

Scientists with NASA's Dawn mission have provided details about the southern hemisphere of Vesta, which boasts one of the largest mountains in the solar system.

New View of Vesta Mountain From NASA's Dawn Mission

A new image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows a mountain three times as high as Mt. Everest, amidst the topography in the south polar region of the giant asteroid Vesta.

NASA's Dawn Spacecraft Begins New Vesta Mapping Orbit

NASA's Dawn spacecraft has completed a gentle spiral into its new science orbit for an even closer view of the giant asteroid Vesta.

NASA Space Telescope Finds Fewer Asteroids Near Earth

New observations by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, show there are significantly fewer near-Earth asteroids in the mid-size range than previously thought.

NASA to Host News Conference on Asteroid Search Findings

NASA will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. EDT (10 a.m. PDT) on Thurs., Sept. 29, to reveal near-Earth asteroid findings and implications for future research.

Origin of Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Remains a Mystery

The family of asteroids some believed was responsible for the demise of the dinosaurs is not likely the culprit according to new observations.

NASA's Dawn Collects a Bounty of Beauty from Vesta

A new video from NASA's Dawn spacecraft takes us on a flyover journey above the surface of the giant asteroid Vesta.

Meteor Likely Cause of Southwest U.S. Light Show

A meteor is the most probable cause of a bright, colorful fireball witnessed by people in a wide swath of the southwestern United States.

Comet Elenin Poses No Threat to Earth

Comet Elenin, like most comets, is harmless. NASA scientists share the facts about Elenin, which will pass at a safe 22 million miles from Earth in October.

NASA's Asteroid Photographer Beams Back Science Data

NASA's Dawn spacecraft is now in its first science-collecting orbit at Vesta.

NASA's Dawn Spacecraft Begins Science Orbits of Vesta

NASA's Dawn spacecraft, the first ever to orbit an object in the main asteroid belt, is spiraling towards its first of four intensive science orbits.

NASA's Dawn's Spacecraft Views Dark Side of Vesta

NASA's Dawn mission, in orbit around Vesta, captures a new image from a distance of 3,200 miles (5,200) kilometers from the giant asteroid.

NASA's WISE Finds Earth's First Trojan Asteroid

Astronomers studying observations taken by NASA's WISE mission have discovered the first known "Trojan" asteroid orbiting the sun along with Earth.

NASA's Dawn Spacecraft Beams Back New Photo

NASA's Dawn mission, in orbit around Vesta, captured the latest image from a distance of about 6,500 miles (10,500 kilometers) kilometers from the giant asteroid.

NASA Dawn Spacecraft Returns Close-Up Image of Vesta

NASA's Dawn spacecraft has returned the first close-up image after beginning its orbit around the giant asteroid Vesta.

NASA's Dawn Spacecraft Enters Orbit Around Asteroid Vesta

NASA's Dawn spacecraft on Saturday became the first probe ever to enter orbit around an object in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Comet Hartley 2 Leaves a Bumpy Trail

Comet Hartley 2 is a little bit like Hansel and Gretel, leaving behind a trail of ice crumbs as it circles the sun.

NASA Spacecraft to Enter Asteroid's Orbit on July 15

On July 15, NASA's Dawn spacecraft will begin a prolonged encounter with the asteroid Vesta, making the mission the first to enter orbit around a main-belt asteroid.

Dawn Team Members Check out Spacecraft

Mission managers for NASA's Dawn spacecraft are studying the spacecraft's ion propulsion system after Dawn experienced a loss of thrust on June 27.

Small Asteroid to Whip Past Earth on June 27, 2011

An asteroid designated 2011 MD will safely pass Earth in the early morning hours.

Dawn Nears Start of Year-Long Stay at Giant Asteroid

NASA's Dawn spacecraft is on track to begin the first extended visit to a large asteroid.

NASA Hosts Preview of Visit to Large Asteroid

NASA will host a news briefing at 11 a.m. PDT (2 p.m. EDT) on Thursday, June 23, to discuss the Dawn spacecraft's year-long visit to the large asteroid Vesta.

Science Paper Details NASA Epoxi Flyby of Hyper Comet

NASA's EPOXI mission found that Comet Hartley 2 is a hyperactive little comet, spewing out more water than most other comets its size.

Dawn Captures Video on Approach to Asteroid Vesta

Scientists working with NASA's Dawn spacecraft have created a new video showing the giant asteroid Vesta as the spacecraft approaches this unexplored world in the main asteroid belt.

NASA's Dawn Captures First Image of Nearing Asteroid

NASA's Dawn spacecraft has obtained its first image of the giant asteroid Vesta, which will help fine-tune navigation during its approach.

Comet Elenin: Preview of a Coming Attraction

A visitor from the outer reaches of our solar system might sound ominous. But comets do this all the time.

Dawn Reaches Milestone Approaching Asteroid Vesta

NASA's Dawn spacecraft has reached its official approach phase to the asteroid Vesta and will begin using cameras for the first time to aid navigation.

Spacecraft Earth to Perform Asteroid 'Flyby' This Fall

NASA spacecraft have already flown past comets and asteroids, and now Earth itself will "fly by" an object that will provide NASA scientists a unique observing opportunity.

Fast-Rotating Asteroid Winks For Astronomer's Camera

An amateur astronomer's video of a newly discovered near-Earth object shows the space rock to be tumbling at a fast rate.

When is an Asteroid Not an Asteroid?

When it's Vesta! On the anniversary of Vesta's discovery day, NASA's Dawn mission celebrates this extraordinary hunk of rock.

NASA's Stardust: Good to the Last Drop

NASA's most traveled comet hunter goes out in style with one final burn of its rocket motors.

NASA Releases Images of Man-Made Crater on Comet

NASA's Stardust spacecraft returned new images of a comet showing a scar resulting from the 2005 Deep Impact mission.

Comet Hunter's First Images on the Ground

JPL Mission controllers have begun receiving the first of 72 anticipated images of comet Tempel 1 taken by NASA's Stardust spacecraft.

NASA's Stardust Spacecraft Completes Comet Flyby

Mission controllers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., watched as data downlinked from the Stardust spacecraft indicated it completed its closest approach with comet Tempel 1.

NASA's Stardust-NExT: Valentine's Night Comet Flyby

As of about 10 p.m. PST (1 a.m. EST on Feb. 15), NASA's Stardust spacecraft has turned to point its high-gain antenna at Earth and started downlinking data through that antenna.

The Two Faces of Tempel 1

Whichever part of comet Tempel 1 is facing toward Stardust when the spacecraft zips by the comet tonight should provide some great new science.

Five Things About NASA's Valentine's Day Comet

Here are five facts about NASA's Stardust-NExT spacecraft as it prepares for a Valentine's "date" with comet Tempel 1. Feel free to sing along!

Heading Into the Bonus Round -- in Space

Stardust-NExT, history's most traveled comet hunter, has a rich legacy of space firsts.

NASA Hosting Events for Valentine's Night Comet Encounter

NASA will host several live activities for the Stardust-NExT mission's close encounter with comet Tempel 1.

Stardust Celebrates Twelve Years With Rocket Burn

NASA's Stardust-NExT mission team on Earth marked the spacecraft's 12th anniversary in space with a flight path correction maneuver.

NASA Stardust Adjusts Flight Path for Comet Meetup

NASA's Stardust spacecraft has executed a rocket burn to refine its flight path toward a Valentine's Day comet encounter.

NASA's NEOWISE Completes Scan for Asteroids and Comets

NASA's NEOWISE mission has completed its survey of small bodies, asteroids and comets, in our solar system.

NASA Comet Hunter Spots Its Valentine

NASA's Stardust spacecraft is closing in on a Valentine's Day date with comet Tempel 1.

NASA Spacecraft Prepares for Valentine's Day Comet Rendezvous

NASA's Stardust-NExT spacecraft is nearing a celestial date with comet Tempel 1 at approximately 8:37 p.m. PST (11:37 p.m. EST), on Feb. 14.

NASA Radar Reveals Features on Asteroid

This 36-frame video, from NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar, depicts the rotation of asteroid JL33 - an irregular, elongated object roughly 1.8 kilometers (1.1) miles wide.

NASA Spacecraft Burns for Another Comet Flyby

NASA's Stardust spacecraft fired its rockets to adjust its flight path today, Nov. 22, to set itself up for a flyby of comet Tempel 1 next February.

NASA Spacecraft Sees Cosmic Snow Storm During Comet Encounter

The EPOXI mission's recent encounter with comet Hartley 2 provided the first images clear enough for scientists to link jets of dust and gas with specific surface features.

How to See the Best Meteor Showers of the Year: Tools, Tips and 'Save the Dates'

There are several major meteor showers to enjoy every year at various times, with some more active than others.

Flight of the Comet

This video clip was compiled from images taken by NASA's EPOXI mission spacecraft during its flyby of comet Hartley 2 on Nov. 4.

NASA EPOXI Flyby Reveals New Insights Into Comet Features

Scientists say initial images from today's flyby of comet Hartley 2 provide new information about the comet's volume and material spewing from its surface.

NASA Mission Successfully Flies by Comet Hartley 2

NASA's EPOXI mission successfully flew by comet Hartley 2 at about 7 a.m. PDT (10 a.m. EDT) today, and the spacecraft has begun returning images. Hartley 2 is the fifth comet nucleus visited by a spacecraft.

Epoxi Flyby of Comet Hartley 2 Underway

Mission controllers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., have relayed final instructions to their comet-bound spacecraft today, Nov. 3.

The Man Behind Comet Hartley 2

Malcolm Hartley has seen a whole lot of the universe over the last 40 years, but he'd never had a close-up view of a comet named after him.

NASA Spacecraft on Final Approach Toward Comet

NASA's EPOXI mission spacecraft steadily approaches its target, comet Hartley 2, as it completes its final flight-path adjustment.

NASA's Comet Mission May Face Multiple Jets Nov. 4

Images from NASA's EPOXI mission shows jets emanating from comet Hartley 2.

NASA to Host Live Events for November 4 Comet Encounter

NASA will hold a series of news and educational events about the EPOXI mission's close encounter with comet Hartley 2, scheduled to occur at approximately 7 a.m. PDT (10 a.m. EDT) on Thursday, Nov. 4.

Space Radar Provides a Taste of Comet Hartley 2

A massive space-radar dish in Puerto Rico is providing an appetizing glimpse at a cometary target for a Nov. 4 encounter by NASA's EPOXI mission.

NASA Spacecraft Preps for Comet Flyby

NASA's EPOXI mission has successfully performed one of its final maneuvers as it prepares for a comet flyby on Nov. 4.

Countdown to Comet Flyby Down to Nine Days

NASA's EPOXI mission continues to close in on its target, comet Hartley 2, at a rate of 12.5 kilometers (7.8 miles) per second.

New Cometary Phenomenon Greets Approaching Spacecraft

Scientists expected the unexpected during NASA's EPOXI mission flyby of comet Hartley 2. They just didn't expect the unexpected quite so unexpectedly.

The Comet Cometh: Hartley 2 Visible in Night Sky

A comet that makes its closest approach to Earth this Wednesday, Oct. 20, will be scrutinized even more closely by a NASA spacecraft in a little over two weeks.

Small Asteroid to Pass Within Earth-Moon System Tuesday

A small asteroid will fly past Earth early Tuesday within the Earth-moon system.

NASA Mission to Asteroid Gets Help from Hubble

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured images of the large asteroid Vesta that will help refine plans for the Dawn spacecraft's rendezvous with Vesta in July 2011.

NASA's WISE Mission Warms Up but Keeps Chugging Along

After completing its primary mission to map the infrared sky, NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, has reached the expected end of its onboard supply of frozen coolant.

NASA's EPOXI Mission Sets Up for Comet Flyby

NASA's EPOXI mission successfully performed a trajectory correction maneuver today. The maneuver refined the spacecraft's orbit for a flyby of comet Hartley 2 on Nov. 4.

Tally-Ho! Deep Impact Spacecraft Eyes Comet Target

NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft has beamed down the first of over 64,000 images it will be taking of Comet Hartley 2.

Two Asteroids to Pass by Earth Wednesday

Two asteroids, several meters in diameter and in unrelated orbits, will pass within the moon's distance of Earth on Wednesday, Sept. 8.

How to See the Best Meteor Showers of the Year: Tools, Tips and 'Save the Dates'

Insider tips on 2010 and 2011's meteor showers and how to make the most of each opportunity to watch a visitor from space take that final dive.

Heavy Metal Rock Takes Center Stage

The European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft, with NASA instruments aboard, did a close flyby of asteroid Lutetia on Saturday, July 10.

Small Near-Earth Object Probably a Rocket Part

Scientists have determined that a small object that safely passed Earth on May 21 is more than likely an upper-stage of a rocket.

WISE Makes Progress on Its Space Rock Catalog

NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, is busy surveying the landscape of the infrared sky, building up a catalog of cosmic specimens -- everything from distant galaxies to "failed" stars, called brown dwarfs.

Asteroid Caught Marching Across Tadpole Nebula

A new infrared image from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, showcases the Tadpole nebula, and asteroids that just happened to be cruising by.

Radar Clicks Asteroid's Pic

Near-Earth asteroid 2005 YU55 was "imaged" by the Arecibo Radar Telescope in Puerto Rico on April 19.

Scientists Say Ice Lurks In Asteroid's Cold Heart

Scientists using a NASA funded telescope have detected water-ice and carbon-based organic compounds on the surface of an asteroid.

Wisconsin Fireball Caught On Tape

A rooftop webcam at the University of Wisconsin-Madison captured the final seconds of a fireball's Wednesday, April 14 descent into the atmosphere.

Meteor Showers: Shooting for Shooting Stars

Meteor showers – one of the many benefits to living on a planet with an atmosphere.

Asteroid to Fly by Within Moon's Orbit Thursday

A newly discovered asteroid, 2010 GA6, will safely fly by Earth this Thursday at 7:06 p.m. Pacific (2:06 U.T.C.).

Get Set for a Possible Glimpse of an Asteroid

The most prominent asteroid in the sky is currently yours for the perusing with binoculars -- and perhaps even the naked eye.

Suspected Asteroid Crash Leaves Odd Debris Trail

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has observed a mysterious X-shaped debris pattern and trailing streamers of dust that suggest a head-on collision between two asteroids.

NASA's WISE Eye Spies Near-Earth Asteroid

NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, has spotted its first never-before-seen near-Earth asteroid, the first of hundreds it is expected to find during its mission to map the whole sky in infrared light.

Asteroid To Fly By Earth Wednesday Is a Natural

Asteroid 2010 AL30 will fly safely past Earth on Jan. 13. There are those who say it may be a used rocket stage. Not so fast says NASA's Near-Earth Object Office.

Planets Can Form Around Hefty Stars

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope is helping scientists find evidence for planets around massive stars.

Best (Meteor) Shower of 2009 - No Towel Required

Bundle up and get ready to watch a fiery lightshow stirred up by dead comets in Earth's upper atmosphere during the cold of winter in the dead of night.

2012 - A Scientific Reality Check

The manager of NASA's Near-Earth Object Office shares with you the scientific realities surrounding the celestial happenings in the year 2012

Read blog (November 10, 2009)

NASA Refines Asteroid Apophis' Path Toward Earth

Using updated information, NASA scientists have recalculated the path of a large asteroid.

Asteroid Juno Grabs the Spotlight

Toward the end of September, the sun will turn a spotlight on the asteroid Juno, giving that bulky lump of rock a rare featured cameo in the night sky.

Jumping Asteroids

How our solar system was formed has fascinated scientists and laymen alike for -- well, for a really, really long time. New research may have answered a piece to the puzzle - how big were the first planetesimals?

NASA Researchers Make First Discovery of Life's Building Block in Comet

NASA scientists have discovered glycine, a fundamental building block of life, in samples of comet Wild 2 returned by NASA's Stardust spacecraft.

On the JPL Blog: Comets and Life On Earth

With the recent discovery of the amino acid glycine in the comet dust samples returned to Earth by the Stardust spacecraft, it is becoming a bit more clear how life may have originated on Earth.

New Near-Earth Object Report from National Research Council

In the 2005 NASA Authorization Act, Congress mandated that by 2020 NASA should be capable of detecting at least 90 percent of objects over 140 meters wide in the vicinity of Earth’s orbit.

Meteorite Found on Mars Yields Clues About Planet's Past

NASA's Mars Rover Opportunity is investigating a metallic meteorite the size of a large watermelon that is providing researchers more details about the Red Planet's environmental history.

Triple Asteroid System Triples Observers' Interest

Radar imaging at NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar on June 12 and 14, 2009, revealed that near-Earth asteroid 1994 CC is a triple system.

On the JPL Blog: The Lowdown on Jupiter's Black Eye

JPL scientist Glenn Orton recounts how he and his team used a NASA telescope to verify an impact at Jupiter, which was first observed by an amateur astronomer in Australia.

Read blog / post a comment (July 29, 2009)

NASA to Provide Web Updates on Objects Approaching Earth

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is introducing a new Web site that will provide a centralized resource for information on near-Earth objects - those asteroids and comets that can approach Earth.

Hubble Space Telescope Captures Rare Jupiter Collision

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has taken the sharpest visible-light picture yet of atmospheric debris from an object that collided with Jupiter on July 19.

New NASA Images Indicate Object Hits Jupiter

Scientists have found evidence that another object has bombarded Jupiter, exactly 15 years after the first impacts by the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9.

NASA Study Shows Asteroids May Have Accelerated Life On Earth

A NASA-funded study indicates that an intense asteroid bombardment nearly 4 billion years ago may not have sterilized the early Earth as completely as previously thought.

Live Chat With NASA's Asteroid Trackers

A live videocast and chat from JPL offers a unique opportunity for viewers to ask questions of scientists with NASA's Near-Earth Object Program Office about how NASA discovers and tracks asteroids.

Asteroid to Fly By Earth Wednesday

A small asteroid will fly past Earth early tomorrow morning (Wed., March 18).

Small Asteroid to Light Up Sky Over Africa

An asteroid measuring several feet in diameter is expected to enter the atmosphere over northern Sudan before dawn Tuesday, setting off a potentially brilliant natural fireworks display.

NASA Statement on Student Asteroid Calculations

The Near-Earth Object Program Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., has not changed its current estimates for the very low probability (1 in 45,000) of an Earth impact by the asteroid Apophis in 2036.

View release (April 16, 2008)

radar image of 2007 TU24 from Jan. 28, 2008

Asteroid Zooms by Earth

As expected, Asteroid 2007 TU24 made its closest approach to Earth at 12:33 a.m. today, Jan. 29 (3:33 a.m. Eastern time), and is now headed away from our planet.

NASA Scientists Get First Images of Earth Flyby Asteroid

Scientists at JPL have obtained the first images of asteroid 2007 TU24 using high-resolution radar data.

View release (January 25, 2008)

Asteroid to Make Rare Close Flyby of Earth January 29

Scientists are monitoring the orbit of asteroid 2007 TU24.

View release (January 24, 2008)

Searching for the Grandest Asteroid Tour

Orbit mechanics experts from around the world recently met to discuss methods for finding the best possible spacecraft trajectory, or flight path, for visiting a sequence of asteroids.

View feature (April 05, 2007)

Radar Love: Asteroid Detection and Science

They are the celestial equivalent of sonograms. But their hazy outlines and ghostly features do not document the in-vivo development of a future taxpayer.

View feature (December 19, 2006)

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