Asteroids: What Are They and Where Do They Come From?
Jul 15, 2014 · Just what are asteroids, exactly? They're rocky objects left over from the solar system's formation, found mostly in between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Why do comets have tails? - Sky & Telescope
Jul 15, 2014 · These particles continue to follow the comet’s orbit around the Sun, and form a diffuse, curved tail that typically appears white or pink from Earth. Comets aren't the only objects in the solar …
Ingredients of Life Discovered on Near-Earth Asteroid Bennu
Feb 5, 2025 · The molecules and brines present on Bennu demonstrate that the ingredients to form life might have been ubiquitous in the early solar system. Asteroids could have delivered this life-starting …
We’ve Found the Source of Most Meteorites - Sky & Telescope
Oct 21, 2024 · Scientists have traced 70% of meteorite falls to three collisions that occurred in the asteroid belt within the past 40 million years.
All About Comets: What is a comet? Where do comets come from?
Jul 15, 2014 · Just what is a comet, exactly? Comets, the solar system's dirty snowballs, are suspected to be one of the remnants of planet formation.
Asteroid Won't Hit Earth, But Might Hit Moon - Sky & Telescope
Feb 28, 2025 · An artist's illustration of an asteroid N. Bartmann / ESA / Webb / ESO / M. Kornmesser and S. Brunier / N. Risinger “We are all rooting for the Moon!” Richard Binzel (MIT) is referring to the …
How Often Do Chicxulub-level Asteroids Hit Earth?
Jul 23, 2021 · Asteroids crashing on Earth originated from different parts of the main belt, which has implications for how often such collisions happen.
The Origin of Earth’s Water - Sky & Telescope
Aug 27, 2020 · But the material in those asteroids fails a crucial fingerprint test. To see if the water on Earth is the same as the water on asteroids, astronomers compare isotopes. Every atom of …
Icy Impactor Might Explain the Formation of Mars’s Moons
Mar 12, 2024 · In a new study, scientists suggest an impact with a giant icy object could explain the formation of Mars's moons, Phobos and Deimos.
Observing Guides to Celestial Objects - Sky & Telescope
15 Types of Celestial Objects to Observe Asteroids Find facts, tips, and techniques for observing asteroids — learn where to spot Ceres and Vesta, two of the largest asteroids, or find out how to join …