Latest news with #coorbital
Sustainability Times
06-07-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'They're Hiding in the Sun's Glare': Astronomers Detect Giant Asteroids Near Venus That Could Someday Strike Earth
IN A NUTSHELL 🌌 Recent studies reveal that a hidden population of co-orbital asteroids near Venus might eventually shift closer to Earth. near Venus might eventually shift closer to Earth. 🔭 These asteroids, residing in gravitationally stable Lagrange points , exhibit unpredictable orbits over millennia. , exhibit unpredictable orbits over millennia. 🚀 The upcoming Vera Rubin Observatory and NASA's NEO Surveyor are expected to enhance detection capabilities. and NASA's are expected to enhance detection capabilities. 🌍 Understanding and monitoring these asteroids is crucial for assessing any potential long-term risks to our planet. In the vast expanse of our solar system, hidden populations of celestial bodies often go unnoticed. Among these are a group of asteroids known as co-orbitals, which share their path with Venus around the Sun. While their existence has been acknowledged for years, recent studies suggest that some of these asteroids might eventually take a course leading them closer to Earth. Although there is no immediate threat, this revelation emphasizes the importance of keeping a vigilant eye on these elusive objects. Unpredictable Orbits The co-orbital asteroids of Venus reside in gravitationally stable regions known as Lagrange points. According to simulations, these asteroids can develop unstable trajectories over periods exceeding 12,000 years, potentially adopting elongated orbits that increase their likelihood of intersecting with Earth's orbit. Among the 20 identified co-orbitals, three have been projected to approach our planet. These projections, shared in the journal Icarus, pertain to asteroids measuring between 984 and 1,312 feet in diameter. While their size categorizes them as potentially hazardous, none pose a threat for several millennia. The gravitational disturbances these asteroids experience lead to chaotic paths over the long term. A secondary study, currently under review, reinforces this instability even for orbits that initially appear to be less eccentric. This unpredictable nature makes understanding their movements critical for assessing any future risk they might pose to Earth. 'NASA Unveils Cosmic Spectacle': Stunning New Images and Sounds of Andromeda Galaxy Leave Astronomers in Absolute Awe Complex Detection Challenges Detecting these asteroids is a challenging endeavor due to their proximity to the Sun. Terrestrial telescopes can only observe them briefly during twilight hours, with solar brightness and atmospheric distortion significantly hindering detection efforts. However, future advancements in technology promise to revolutionize this search. The upcoming Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile is poised to transform asteroid detection. With its extensive field of view and enhanced sensitivity, it could uncover thousands of new asteroids, including those concealed near Venus. Complementing these efforts, a space-based infrared telescope like NASA's NEO Surveyor would bypass atmospheric interference, providing a clearer picture. These tools are expected to offer a more accurate assessment of any potential risks. Currently, scientists reiterate that there is no immediate threat from these celestial wanderers. 'We Finally Found It': Scientists Reveal the Missing Half of the Universe's Matter Was Hiding in Plain Sight All Along Future Implications and Preparedness The potential for these co-orbital asteroids to alter their paths and come closer to Earth raises important questions about planetary defense and preparedness. While the immediate danger is non-existent, understanding their movements could be crucial in the distant future. The unpredictable nature of their orbits suggests that continued monitoring and research are necessary. By expanding our observational capabilities and refining our understanding of these celestial objects, we can better prepare for any eventualities. The studies underscore the need for international collaboration in tracking and analyzing these asteroids. As we advance our technological capabilities, the hope is to mitigate any long-term risks they might pose to our planet. 'Trees Are Poisoning the Air': Shocking New Study Reveals Natural Plant Defenses May Be Making Pollution Worse Enhancing Our Observational Arsenal To effectively monitor these elusive asteroids, the astronomical community is turning to innovative technologies and methods. The combination of ground-based observatories like the Vera Rubin Observatory and space-based instruments such as the NEO Surveyor is expected to significantly enhance our ability to detect and track these asteroids. These advancements will not only improve our understanding of the asteroids' trajectories but also help refine models predicting their future paths. With a more comprehensive observational arsenal, scientists aim to provide earlier warnings of any potential threats and formulate strategies to address them. This proactive approach is essential for ensuring the safety of our planet in the centuries to come. As we continue to explore the mysteries of our solar system, the presence of these hidden asteroids reminds us of the dynamic nature of the cosmos. While current observations assure us of no imminent threat, the question remains: how can we further enhance our capabilities to safeguard Earth from the unknowns of space? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.7/5 (29)
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.
