/r/asteroid

Photograph via //r/asteroid

Articles and discussion about Asteroids.

Asteroids are small rocky, metallic, or icy bodies that orbit around the Solar System. Larger asteroids have also been called planetoids, and those with a tail are referred to as comets.

Asteroids have collided with the major planets before in the past, releasing huge quantities of energy, leaving craters and devastation in their wake. However, most asteroids orbit far from any planet on relatively stable orbits. Asteroid mining has been proposed as a future industry - if successful, a huge wealth of minerals and resources could be within our grasp.


Rules
  1. Content must be about Asteroids
  2. No sensationalist or apocalyptic content
  3. No hostility or aggression

External resources about Asteroids
Subreddits relating to Asteroids


The Solar System Subreddit Network
Stars
Planets
Dwarf Planets
Moons
Small Solar System Bodies

Please help these small subreddits grow by subscribing, upvoting, and contributing!

/r/asteroid

2,475 Subscribers

6

Why are news about nearby asteroids always so clickbaity...?

Cant they just say it flys by? Am i missing something here?

9 Comments
2024/10/09
09:37 UTC

1

ELI5: Why does NASA wants to catch an asteroid and have it circulate the moon?

1 Comment
2024/10/02
11:47 UTC

3

Using an asteroid for propulsion

Ever since the mission to collect samples from Benu, and the DART mission to alter the course of an asteroid, Ive been curious about another possible use for asteroids that orbit close to earth or return occationaly to earth. Has there ever been a serious proposal to plant a device on an asteroid to study wherever its going? Seams like a good way to avoid spending resources on propulsion, and still get some "sensors" and cameras farther out into space....and yet also return to Earth occational.

6 Comments
2024/09/28
21:26 UTC

4

Apophis 99942

Just a couple of questions:

  1. What if Apophis interacts with something whilst it’s unobservable, how long would it be before we were able to recalculate its trajectory once it becomes visible again?

  2. As it passes between two large gravitational objects in the earth and moon, given it’s shaped like a peanut, 🥜 is it possible it could split into two or a partial earthquake could cause material to eject, again either altering the trajectory or sending debris into a troublesome direction?

If anyone can point me in the direction/the right answer.. please do.

5 Comments
2024/09/10
06:17 UTC

13

Asteroid (?) in France 🫡

2 Comments
2024/08/27
20:31 UTC

36

Saw this off the Southern California coast…what is it?

Thought it could be an asteroid or satellite

6 Comments
2024/07/26
04:34 UTC

Back To Top