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NASA Monitors Plane-Sized Asteroid Approaching Earth, Ensures Safety

NASA Monitors Plane-Sized Asteroid Approaching Earth, Ensures Safety

NASA is closely monitoring an asteroid named '2025 XM' as it approaches Earth, expected to pass within 295,000 miles today. The asteroid, traveling at a speed of 9,753 miles per hour, has an estimated diameter of 84 feet, comparable to the size of a commercial airplane. Despite its proximity, 2025 XM does not meet NASA's criteria for a potentially hazardous object, which requires a diameter of over 150 meters and a closer approach. This asteroid is one of several passing near Earth this week, including '2019 XN3' and '1999 SF10', which will pass at greater distances.

NASA Monitors Plane-Sized Asteroid 2025 XM Approaching Earth

NASA Monitors Plane-Sized Asteroid 2025 XM Approaching Earth

NASA is tracking an asteroid named 2025 XM, which is expected to pass within 295,000 miles of Earth on December 9, 2025. The asteroid, approximately 84 feet in diameter, is traveling at a speed of 9,753 miles per hour. Although it is relatively close in astronomical terms, it does not meet the criteria for a potentially hazardous object, as it is smaller than the 150-meter threshold and will pass at a safe distance.

NASA Monitors Bus-Sized Asteroid Approaching Earth, Ensures No Immediate Threat

NASA Monitors Bus-Sized Asteroid Approaching Earth, Ensures No Immediate Threat

NASA is closely monitoring an asteroid, designated as '2025 XF1', which is approximately the size of a bus and is traveling towards Earth at a speed of nearly 8,000 miles per hour. According to NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), this asteroid is expected to pass within 195,000 miles of Earth on Saturday. In addition to 2025 XF1, NASA is also tracking another bus-sized asteroid, '2025 XK1', which will come within 624,000 miles of Earth on Friday. Furthermore, two plane-sized asteroids, '2020 WH20' and '2016 YH', are also being observed as they approach Earth at speeds of nearly 20,000 miles per hour, with their closest approaches scheduled for Friday and Saturday, respectively. These asteroids are part of a group known as 'near-Earth objects', which are celestial bodies whose orbits bring them within 120 million miles of the sun and into Earth's orbital neighborhood.

Voyager 2 Data Reveals Uranus's Magnetic Field Similarities with Earth

Voyager 2 Data Reveals Uranus's Magnetic Field Similarities with Earth

Recent analysis of 40-year-old data from the Voyager 2 mission has revealed that Uranus's magnetic field may have more in common with Earth's than previously thought. The data suggests that a co-rotating interaction region, a phenomenon where fast solar wind collides with slower solar wind, may have energized Uranus's radiation belts and compressed its magnetosphere during the Voyager 2 flyby in 1986. This event is similar to geomagnetic storms on Earth that result in auroras. The findings indicate that Uranus's magnetosphere, which was thought to be in a constant state of compression, might have been observed at a unique moment, challenging long-held assumptions about the planet's magnetic environment.

Soyuz MS-27 Crew Returns Safely After Eight Months on ISS

Soyuz MS-27 Crew Returns Safely After Eight Months on ISS

The crew of the Soyuz MS-27 capsule, consisting of two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut, has safely returned to Earth after an eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The capsule landed on the steppe of Kazakhstan, where recovery teams assisted the crew with routine medical checks. The mission, known as Expedition 73, involved conducting numerous scientific experiments and technology demonstrations. The crew's return marks the end of Expedition 73 and the beginning of Expedition 74, which includes a new team of astronauts and cosmonauts.

NASA's Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: New Discoveries and Implications for Life's Ingredients

NASA's Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: New Discoveries and Implications for Life's Ingredients

NASA, along with partner observatories, is closely studying the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, which is currently passing through our solar system. Discovered on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS telescope in Chile, this comet is only the third confirmed interstellar object observed in our solar system. It is notable for its hyperbolic trajectory, indicating it is not gravitationally bound to the Sun and will not return. The comet's closest approach to Earth will be on December 19, 2025, at a safe distance of about 1.8 astronomical units. Recent observations have revealed that 3I/ATLAS is rich in methanol and hydrogen cyanide, chemicals that are significant in prebiotic chemistry. These findings suggest that the comet carries the chemical ingredients necessary for life, although it does not contain life itself.

NASA Highlights Geminid Meteor Shower's Peak Viewing Conditions

NASA Highlights Geminid Meteor Shower's Peak Viewing Conditions

The Geminid meteor shower, known for its bright and reliable display, is set to peak overnight from December 13 into the morning of December 14. Unlike most meteor showers that originate from comets, the Geminids are formed from debris of the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. According to NASA, the particles from this asteroid are denser than typical comet debris, resulting in a more vivid meteor display. The best viewing times are between midnight and 2 a.m., before the crescent moon rises, which could otherwise interfere with visibility. NASA advises finding a location with clear skies and minimal light pollution for optimal viewing. The meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Gemini, but they can be seen across the entire night sky.

NASA's Curiosity Rover Conducts Extensive Drilling and Analysis on Mars

NASA's Curiosity Rover Conducts Extensive Drilling and Analysis on Mars

NASA's Curiosity rover has been actively conducting scientific experiments on Mars, focusing on drilling and analyzing samples from the Nevado Sajama region. The rover recently completed its 45th drill hole, with the CheMin and SAM instruments analyzing the samples. The team is utilizing an extended planning period to maximize scientific output, including ChemCam's seven LIBS measurements and Mastcam's 360-degree stereo mosaic. The rover is also monitoring the Martian environment for dust and atmospheric changes as the planet enters its dusty season.

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Exhibits Unusual 16.16-Hour Pulsing Pattern

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Exhibits Unusual 16.16-Hour Pulsing Pattern

The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS has been observed to exhibit a unique pulsing pattern, brightening and dimming every 16.16 hours. This phenomenon has intrigued scientists and sparked discussions about its implications. Initially, it was thought that the comet's rotation might cause the brightness changes, but new data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope revealed that the light emanates from a large cloud of gas and dust, known as a coma, surrounding the comet. The pulsing is attributed to jet activity on the comet's surface, where frozen material heats up and releases gas, causing the coma to expand and reflect more sunlight.

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Captured in New Images by Space Agencies

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Captured in New Images by Space Agencies

The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, only the third such object confirmed to have entered our solar system from another galaxy, has been the subject of intense observation by various space agencies. Recent images released by the European Space Agency and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have added to the growing collection of data on this rare celestial visitor. The comet, which reached its closest point to the sun at the end of October, is set to pass by Earth on December 19, maintaining a safe distance of approximately 170 million miles. Observations have revealed that the comet's coma, a cloud of gas and dust surrounding its nucleus, contains ice water and carbon dioxide, similar to comets formed within our solar system.

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Brightens December Skies with New Discoveries

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Brightens December Skies with New Discoveries

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, formally designated C/2025 N1 (ATLAS), is making a significant appearance in December 2025. Discovered on July 1, 2025, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System telescope in Chile, this comet is only the third confirmed interstellar visitor to our Solar System. It is characterized by a hyperbolic orbit, indicating it is not gravitationally bound to the Sun and is merely passing through. Recent observations have revealed high levels of methanol and hydrogen cyanide, molecules associated with the origins and destruction of life. Despite speculative claims of alien origins, NASA and experts assert that 3I/ATLAS is a natural comet. The comet is currently moving away from the Sun and will make its closest approach to Earth on December 19, 2025, at a safe distance of 1.8 astronomical units.

NASA Astronaut and Roscosmos Cosmonauts Prepare for Departure from International Space Station

NASA Astronaut and Roscosmos Cosmonauts Prepare for Departure from International Space Station

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, are set to depart the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft. The crew will close the hatch between the spacecraft and the ISS at 5:10 p.m. EST, with undocking scheduled for approximately 8:41 p.m. The spacecraft is expected to land in Kazakhstan at 12:04 a.m. on December 9, local time. This mission marks the first spaceflight for both Kim and Zubritsky, while Ryzhikov concludes his third mission, bringing his total time in space to 603 days, ranking him 13th all-time. The crew's mission lasted 245 days, during which they orbited Earth 3,920 times and traveled nearly 104 million miles.