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Fastest Asteroid Spins Break Records!
8 Jan
Summary
- Asteroid 2025 MN45 spins faster than any known large asteroid.
- Its rapid rotation suggests it's made of solid rock, not rubble.
- Scientists discovered 1,900 new asteroids, including 19 fast rotators.
An unprecedented discovery has been made in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter with the identification of asteroid 2025 MN45. This celestial object, approximately 710 meters in diameter, is rotating at a speed never before observed in an asteroid of its size. It completes a full revolution in a mere 1.88 minutes, a rate that has surprised scientists.
Experts theorize that 2025 MN45's rapid spin necessitates a composition of solid rock to maintain its structural integrity. This finding is significant because most asteroids are believed to be 'rubble piles'—collections of smaller debris bound by gravity. The study, which utilized the LSST Camera at the Rubin Observatory, detected 1,900 new asteroids, including 19 exceptionally fast rotators, with 2025 MN45 setting a new benchmark.
While currently distant, asteroids can be influenced by planetary gravity, potentially entering Earth's vicinity. However, the likelihood of a large, devastating impact within the next century remains low. The new findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, offer crucial insights into asteroid formation and evolution, underscoring the importance of ongoing astronomical observation for planetary defense.
