Latest news with #ValerioCarruba
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
A hidden asteroid family may share Venus' orbit: 'It's like discovering a continent you didn't know existed'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Astronomers are investigating a little-known and largely unseen group of asteroids that quietly orbit the sun alongside Venus — and there may be many more of them than we thought. "It's like discovering a continent you didn't know existed," Valerio Carruba of the São Paulo State University in Brazil, who led the analysis, told "It's very likely there are other asteroids we don't observe today." These space rocks, known as "Venus co-orbital asteroids," are a special class of asteroids that move in lockstep with the planet, sharing its orbit around the sun. To date, only about 20 have been confirmed — but a new study conducted by Carruba and his colleagues suggests many more may be lurking just out of sight. Most Venus co-orbital asteroids are exceptionally difficult to detect from Earth. They appear close to the sun in the sky, an area where ground-based telescopes have limited visibility. Even under ideal conditions, their rapid motion makes them tricky to track. Only one of the known Venus co-orbital asteroids follows a nearly circular orbit; the others move on more elongated paths that sometimes bring them closer to Earth, making them easier to detect. However, Carruba's team believes this pattern may reflect observational bias, not the actual makeup of the population. "It's impossible to say for sure," he said, "but I suspect we will find hundreds of asteroids around Venus." To test this idea, Carruba's team ran computer simulations modeling the orbits of hundreds of hypothetical Venus co-orbital asteroids, projecting their paths up to 36,000 years into the future. They found that many of these objects can remain gravitationally bound to Venus' orbit for an average of about 12,000 years. Of note, the orbits of the objects appeared chaotic, meaning small shifts over time can push them onto different paths, including some that bring them close to Earth. There's no cause for concern right now; none of the known asteroids pose any threat, and the timescales involved span many thousands of years. "The likelihood of one colliding with Earth any time soon is extremely low," Scott Sheppard, an astronomer at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C. who was not involved with the new study, told National Geographic. "There isn't too much to be worried about here." In a study published earlier this year in the journal Icarus, Carruba's team analyzed the orbital evolution of the 20 known Venus co-orbital asteroids. Their simulations showed that three of these objects — each measuring between 1,000 and 1,300 feet (300 to 400 meters) across — could eventually pass within about 46,500 miles (74,800 kilometers) of Earth's orbit. In some cases, this gradual shift onto a near-Earth trajectory could take up to 12,000 years. Keeping track of such objects and understanding how they move is crucial for building a more complete picture of near-Earth space, the new study argues. "We should know about these objects," said Carruba. "They are very interesting dynamically — I think that would be a reason to continue to study them." Because Venus' asteroids are so difficult to spot from Earth, Carruba's team explored how we might do better from other vantage points. Their simulations showed that a spacecraft orbiting closer to Venus would have a much better chance of detecting these fast-moving asteroids. Related Stories: — The Rubin Observatory found 2,104 asteroids in just a few days. It could soon find millions more — Europe wants to land a tiny spacecraft on the infamous asteroid Apophis in 2029 — Astronomers discover the largest comet from the outskirts of the solar system is exploding with jets of gas The upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which just released its first images on June 23,, could also help. Although it's not specifically built to focus on the inner solar system, its special twilight observing campaigns might be able to catch some of these hidden asteroids. In fact, the observatory has already identified 2,104 new asteroids in its initial datasets. Further into the future, a proposed mission concept called CROWN could offer an even more targeted approach. The mission concept envisions a fleet of small spacecraft operating near Venus' orbit, designed specifically to search for asteroids in the inner solar system. These efforts "may be able to discover a lot of these objects, if they exist," said Carruba. This research was posted to arXiv on May 21 and will be published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
News18
09-06-2025
- Science
- News18
20 City-Killer Asteroids Lurking Near Venus, Slight Shift And They Could One Day Slam Into Earth
Last Updated: Scientists have found 20 large asteroids near Venus with erratic orbits that could one day collide with Earth, posing a potential risk to cities. But no immediate danger detected The universe is brimming with mysteries, and among them are millions of asteroids hurtling through space. Imagine if one of these massive rocks were to collide with Earth, an entire city could be obliterated within minutes. This is not science fiction, but a conclusion drawn from recent astronomical research. Scientists have identified 20 large asteroids orbiting near Venus that have the potential to strike Earth in the future. These asteroids have been ominously nicknamed 'city killers'. There are concerns that some of these space rocks might one day collide with our planet. Researchers from São Paulo State University in Brazil have been studying these asteroids and discovered that they orbit close to Venus. Among them are 'Trojan' asteroids, which maintain stable positions either ahead of or behind the planet in its orbit. Additionally, there is an unusual 'quasi-moon' called Zoozve. A striking feature of these asteroids is their erratic orbits, that is, they do not follow a fixed path around any planet, making them difficult to track. Scientists believe these asteroids originated from the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and measure over 140 metres in diameter. A collision with any one of them could cause devastation on a city-wide scale. Currently, these asteroids are far from Earth and do not present an immediate threat. However, Venus is just 40 million kilometres away from our planet. If the orbits of these asteroids were to shift slightly, Earth's gravity could pull them in, making it challenging to prevent a catastrophic impact. Many of these asteroids follow unpredictable, zigzagging trajectories and only become visible when they approach Earth. Moreover, many remain hidden because the Sun's brightness obscures them from observation. Valerio Carruba, the lead author of the study, stated, 'We should not underestimate the potential danger posed by these bodies, but it is also true that there is no immediate cause for alarm." Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Earth in danger? Giant ‘city-killer' asteroids hiding near Venus could strike without warning; scientists warn
Astronomers have found a cluster of giant asteroids co-orbiting the Sun with Venus—space rocks that might become a long-term hazard for Earth. These are not ordinary asteroids. Sometimes referred to as city killers because of their size, many are bigger than 140 meters; they are big enough to wipe out a whole urban centre upon impact. More concerning is that they can be hidden from our telescopes by the Sun's intense glare. These so-called co-orbital asteroids don't move in orbit around Venus but follow similar orbits around the Sun. Out of the 20 discovered to date, there are "Trojan" asteroids, which stay either in front of or behind Venus in its orbit, and a quasi-moon called Zoozve. They are said to have originated from the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and were later drawn into Venus's vicinity by gravitational forces. Venus co-orbital asteroids remain hidden and potentially hazardous The major issue with these asteroids is not only their size, but also how hard they are to observe. Their proximity to the Sun from our point on Earth means that it is almost impossible for telescopes on the ground to spot them. The light of the Sun drowns out their thin reflection, and astronomers are left with very brief glimpses of visibility; if any.". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tired of High Power Bills? Plug in This Device elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo Additionally, observational biases favor observing asteroids with high eccentricity (those that move widely around the Sun), as they sometimes come close to Earth where they are more easily seen. Conversely, low-eccentricity, co-orbital asteroids stand a better chance of being obscured in the Sun's glare as they go about their orbits. Currently, the discovered Venus co-orbitals do not threaten anything directly. However, that does not imply they are secure. The problem lies in their unstable orbits. Because these objects have no defined path, planetary gravitational jolts particularly from Earth may ultimately send them off course. Researchers at São Paulo State University ran simulations on what happened with these asteroids over 36,000 years. The simulations revealed that although most of the objects had relatively consistent paths, some had behavior that indicated they might wander towards Earth in the long term. Since Venus is only 40 million kilometers (25 million miles) from Earth, any change in course, even a small one, could eventually cause one of these giant space rocks to come close enough to raise alarms. Potential danger posed by hidden Venus co-orbital asteroids While the likelihood of a collision with Earth is still tiny, scientists advise that we shouldn't rule out the possibility altogether. Dr. Valerio Carruba, the author of the research, puts it this way, "I believe that we should not underestimate their potential danger, but I would not lose sleep over this issue." The largest problem is in the unknown; how many co-orbital asteroids remain undiscovered? Because many are likely to be blinded by sunlight and have orbits that conceal them, the 20 we are aware of might be only a small percentage of what actually exists. Why monitoring these asteroids is important As global efforts to enhance planetary defense increase, the finding of Venus co-orbitals emphasizes the necessity of widening our observation capacity particularly through space-based telescopes that are not confined by the Earth location or the Sun's effects. Since these objects don't have regular orbits and can change under the influence of gravity, they are some of the more unpredictable hazards in our solar system. The earlier we detect and follow them, the better equipped we'll be to react if one does stray into Earth's orbit. Why unseen Venus co-orbital asteroids demand careful attention Even though these asteroids are not an immediate threat, they are a blind spot in the study of near-Earth objects . Their size, proximity, and unpredictability qualify them for consideration not alarm, but attentiveness. The more our observation technologies and instruments become advanced, the more research such as this reminds us that what we cannot see can hurt us too and preparing for what we cannot see is an essential aspect of planetary defense. Also Read | Elon Musk's feud with Trump puts $22B SpaceX contracts at risk; what it means for America's space future
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
City-killer asteroids orbiting near Venus could someday hit Earth without warning, says study
A swarm of giant 'city killer' asteroids hiding near Venus could someday pose a threat to Earth. Also known as co-orbital asteroids, these space rocks are difficult to track since they often travel near planets without orbiting them and have no fixed trajectory. According to a new study by astronomers at the Sao Paulo State University, Venus currently has 20 known giant asteroids around it. These include 'trojan' asteroids, which are either fixed in front or back of a planet's orbital plane and a quasi-moon named Zoozve. All of these 20 killer asteroids are said to have originated from our Solar System's asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter are likely bigger than 140 metres in size, meaning they could potentially devastate a city if they hit Earth. While these space rocks don't pose any threat from where they are right now, since they don't have a fixed orbital path, the Earth's gravitational pull could put them on a collision course with the planet. What makes the threat real is that Venus, the planet closest to Earth, is just 25 million miles or 40 million kilometres away. The research paper, published on arXiv, simulated the behaviour of these city-killer asteroids with less elongated objects over 36,000 years. The result hinted that some of these could eventually come near Earth and may be pulled by our planet's gravitational pull, but the chances of this happening are pretty unlikely. Most known asteroids near Venus have an eccentric orbit, which makes them easy to see during short observation windows. However, the study hints that there may be several more objects with lower orbital eccentricities that are hidden by the Sun's glare. As it turns out, we may not be able to spot these hidden space rocks until they approach Earth. The astronomers who published the study said that 'this is most likely caused by observational biases since asteroids with larger eccentricities may approach the Earth and are easier to detect.' But since the exact number of these hidden objects is still unknown, it is pretty hard to say what risk they pose to Earth. 'I believe that we should not underestimate their potential danger, but I would not lose sleep over this issue,' said Valerio Carruba, the lead author of the study.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Asteroids around Venus pose possible 'invisible threat' to Earth: Should you be worried?
A swarm of large asteroids likely lurking around Venus could one day pose an "invisible threat" to Earth if left unchecked, astronomers have warned in new research. The giant space rocks are believed to be traveling in tandem with Venus as the planet orbits the sun, eluding our detection by staying hidden in the sun's glare. Because their orbits are unstable, a possibility exists – however remote – that the asteroids could break off from their current trajectory and one day head on a collision course for Earth. The findings are just the latest instance in which asteroids have gotten some ominous publicity in 2025. Earlier this year, an asteroid dubbed 2024 YR4 became infamous when astronomers briefly calculated a historically high chance of it impacting Earth. In that case, there was no reason to panic, as YR4 was ultimately ruled out as a threat. And there's likely no cause for alarm in this latest case, either. Rather, the team of researchers led by Valerio Carruba, an assistant professor at São Paolo University in Brazil, simply hopes to raise awareness among astronomers and attract more scientific interest in the asteroids. Here's what to know about the Venusian asteroids, and just how concerned you should be about whether there's any immediate danger of a collision with Earth. The second planet from the sun, Venus is sometimes called Earth's twin because it is not only our closest planetary neighbor, but similar in structure and size to our planet. Astronomers who authored the new research recently discovered around at least 20 asteroids around Venus. The space rocks are known as co-orbital asteroids because they orbit the sun alongside the planet without orbiting Venus itself. The asteroids are theorized to have most likely originated from debris in the main asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. And astronomers think that because they're obscured from our view, there are most likely more of them yet to be discovered. Because they're at least 460 feet wide, the Venusian space rocks are large enough to be considered "city killers" – a size that would make them perfectly capable of doing some pretty serious damage to a populated area if given the chance. That moniker may be alarming, and it may have contributed to some of the sensationalistic media coverage the researchers' findings have attracted in tabloid publications. The New York Post, for instance, claimed Earth could be hit by the asteroids "within weeks." Rest assured, nothing in the study concretely supports such a wild assertion. But because these hidden asteroids can change their trajectories relative to Venus, it's possible they could be diverted on a path toward Earth sometime in the coming millennia. To reach their conclusions, the researchers conducted a series of computer simulations to determine whether any potential hidden asteroid circling Venus could threaten Earth in the future. This involved constructing replica computer models of the known co-orbital asteroids around Venus and observing their orbits across 36,000 years. The astronomers believe that new observational tools, like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory under construction in Chile, could help detect some of these asteroids in the future. The observatory, due to become operational in 2025, is set to scan the sky for 10 years. The researchers also advocate for dedicated missions to hunt for Venusian asteroids. The findings, uploaded May 21 to the preprint server arXiv and is undergoing peer review after it was submitted to the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. YR4 and its much larger cousin, the equally infamous Apophis were the most alarming space rocks astronomers have discovered and studied for decades. Now that they have been ruled out as threats to Earth, astronomers still studying such imposing space rocks could help the world's space agencies prepare to mount a planetary defense if the need ever arose. NASA and the European Space Agency bot had plans to send uncrewed spacecraft to observe Apophis in the years ahead to map and study its surface to gain further insights into near-Earth asteroids. However, NASA's mission is in jeopardy under President Donald Trump's budget. Protecting Earth from incoming space rocks could look a little like the test NASA pulled off in 2022 when it demonstrated that it was possible to nudge an incoming asteroid out of harm's way by slamming a spacecraft into one as part of its Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART. As of October, a craft from the European Space Agency is on the way to get an up-close look at the asteroid's remnants. NASA is additionally working on an asteroid-hunting telescope known as the NEO Surveyor to find near-Earth objects capable of causing significant damage. Now set to launch no earlier than 2027, the telescope is designed to discover 90% of asteroids and comets that are 460 feet in size or larger and come within 30 million miles of Earth's orbit. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Earth, asteroids threat? Venus may be hiding 'killer' asteroids
