We have initial data from the Lucy mission, and its Sunday flyby of asteroid (52246) Donaldjohanson. We knew it was an elongated asteroid beforehand, and it turns out imagery confirms this (rather than, say, a close binary system, or something… Read More »Lucy Flyby Update 2
As of Monday, April 21, the Lucy probe has reported it survived and is functioning. Data from asteroid Donaldjohanson now transmitting.
The (formerly threatening) asteroid Apophis will make its (safe) pass by the Earth on April 13, 2029. (No coincidence, the UN has also declared 2029 to be the Year of Planetary Defense.) That means four years to prepare scientific observations,… Read More »Apophis T-4 Years Meeting
Not one but two articles in the BBC today: 4 April 2025 Nelson, S. Asteroid 2024 YR4: Where do near-Earth asteroids come from – and what can we learn form them? (sic) www.bbc.com/future/article/20250312-the-astronomers-watching-the-skies-for-asteroids Molloy, M. Chance of asteroid hitting Moon… Read More »BBC: (small-)Body Bi-Coverage
Yes, I know I just posted on new entries from RNAA (Research Notes of the AAS). The newest Notes include a report of the James Webb Space Telescope getting time to spot asteroid 2024 YR4, which was initially tracked to… Read More »Note Note: JWST Studies 2024 YR4
Just saw this one, sorry I’m a bit slow on the ‘regurgitate’ button: The asteroid Bennu is even weirder than we thoughthttps://www.newscientist.com/article/2471749-the-asteroid-bennu-is-even-weirder-than-we-thought/
There’s still time to register for the Hayabusa meeting, and yes, there is an online option: 2ND HAYABUSA2 DATA ANALYSIS WORKSHOP ON 3 APRIL AT ISAS/ONLINEDate: 3 April 2025Time: 9:30-17:30 ST (5:00-9:30 UTC)Topics: Hayabusa2 dataset, GIS products, Tools, Scientific analysesRegistration… Read More »Hayabusa Data Analysis Workshop
Just out from Space Science Reviews: Lodders, K. Bergemann, M. Palme, H. Solar System Elemental Abundances from the Solar Photosphere and CI-Chondrites art. 23 s11214-025-01146-w What’s the Solar System made of? Sounds like a simple question to ask, but a… Read More »Note, Paper: Material-ites
The BBC: kinda big. Therefore, coverage by the BBC is to be taken seriously, both inherently and in its impact on the discourse: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y494xkp3yoRannard, Georgina The asteroid hits and near-misses you never hear about Not scaremongery at all, and rather… Read More »2024 YR4 will still STILL not kill you
Since I mentioned asteroid 2024 YR4, the web coverage (note I didn’t say press coverage) is not encouraging. Not encouraging… about the state of the web. Scaremonger sites are, unfortunately, ready and willing to use scare fodder wherever they can… Read More »No, 2024 YR4 will STILL NOT kill you