Tag

Active Asteroids

All articles tagged with #active asteroids

"Volunteer Astronomers Uncover 15 Rare Active Asteroids"
astronomy2 years ago

"Volunteer Astronomers Uncover 15 Rare Active Asteroids"

Volunteers from NASA's "Active Asteroids" Citizen Science project have discovered 15 rare active asteroids, challenging conventional wisdom about the solar system. These extraordinary asteroids exhibit comet-like tails or envelopes of gas and dust, and their discovery was made possible by more than 8,000 volunteers who combed through 430,000 images from the Dark Energy Camera on the Victor M. Blanco telescope in Chile. The findings, now published in The Astronomical Journal, provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of the solar system and may have implications for future space exploration.

"Unusual Activity of Rare Asteroids Challenges Solar System Theories"
astronomy2 years ago

"Unusual Activity of Rare Asteroids Challenges Solar System Theories"

A volunteer effort involving over 8000 participants has discovered 15 rare asteroids with unusual "active" properties, challenging existing theories about the solar system. These asteroids blur the lines between asteroids and other celestial objects, displaying traits like comet tails and pockets of dust or gas. The project, led by University of Washington and DiRAC Institute scientist Colin Orion Chandler, aims to unravel the mysteries of these peculiar space objects and seeks additional volunteers to join the effort.