News for 'Asteroids'

8 Asteroids That Gave Earth A Near Miss

8 Asteroids That Gave Earth A Near Miss

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

You may not know that nearly every year a handful of asteroids skim past Earth at distances that are startlingly close in astronomical terms.

How Interstellar Sugar Could Unlock Secrets Of Life's Origins

How Interstellar Sugar Could Unlock Secrets Of Life's Origins

Rediff.com6 days ago

Scientists have detected erythrulose, a sugar found on Earth, in the interstellar medium, marking the first direct discovery of sugar in space. This finding, published in Nature Astronomy, suggests that complex, biologically important molecules can form in space and may have contributed to the chemical ingredients necessary for early metabolic and replication processes on Earth, offering new insights into the origins of life.

How Artemis II's Success Fuels Confidence in India's Gaganyaan Mission

How Artemis II's Success Fuels Confidence in India's Gaganyaan Mission

Rediff.com15 Apr 2026

The successful Artemis II mission has boosted confidence in India's upcoming Gaganyaan mission, as both aim to demonstrate similar spaceflight capabilities. Experts highlight the collaboration between ISRO and NASA and the shared training programmes for astronauts.

10 US scientists with crucial info die, disappear; probe ordered

10 US scientists with crucial info die, disappear; probe ordered

Rediff.com18 Apr 2026

The US administration has ordered a probe into the deaths and disappearances of at least 10 top US scientists and researchers with access to information related to aerospace, defence and extra-terrestrial life.

90-mt wide asteroid likely to miss Earth but Nasa's not taking any chances

90-mt wide asteroid likely to miss Earth but Nasa's not taking any chances

Rediff.com20 Feb 2025

Initially, NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies estimated a roughly 3% chance of a collision on Tuesday, the highest probability ever assigned. However, additional analysis on Wednesday lowered those chances to approximately 1.5%.

Moons Orbiting Free-Floating Planets Could Harbour Life for Billions of Years, Study Suggests

Moons Orbiting Free-Floating Planets Could Harbour Life for Billions of Years, Study Suggests

Rediff.com16 Mar 2026

A new study suggests that moons orbiting free-floating planets, with dense hydrogen atmospheres and tidal heating, could maintain liquid oceans for billions of years, potentially supporting the development of complex life.

NASA successfully crashes spacecraft into asteroid

NASA successfully crashes spacecraft into asteroid

Rediff.com27 Sep 2022

National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) -- the world's first planetary defence technology demonstration -- successfully impacted its asteroid target on Monday, the agency's first attempt to move an asteroid in space.

School students in India discover 18 new asteroids

School students in India discover 18 new asteroids

Rediff.com28 Feb 2021

The International Astronomical Union (IAU), an organisation which assigns official names and designations to celestial bodies, has recently confirmed the discovery of 18 new asteroids by Indian students as part of a global science programme.

Want To Buy A Piece of Mars?

Want To Buy A Piece of Mars?

Rediff.com9 Jul 2025

Measuring nearly 15 x 11 x 6 inches and weighing 24.67 kg, NWA 16788 is the largest Martian meteorite ever found on Earth.

India's Space Manufacturing Boom

India's Space Manufacturing Boom

Rediff.com15 Aug 2025

The $1.2 billion in-space manufacturing market is expected to grow and be worth more than $20 billion by 2033.

Nobel winner Malala gets her own asteroid

Nobel winner Malala gets her own asteroid

Rediff.com11 Apr 2015

She survived an assassination attempt and won a Nobel Prize. Now, 17-year-old activist Malala Yousafzai has an asteroid named after her.

Asteroid that flew past Earth has its own mini moon

Asteroid that flew past Earth has its own mini moon

Rediff.com27 Jan 2015

The first radar images of a huge asteroid that safely flew past Earth show that the space rock has its own small moon, NASA scientists say.

Asteroid named after Rafael Nadal

Asteroid named after Rafael Nadal

Rediff.com15 Jul 2008

The Rafael Nadal asteroid, currently located between Mars and Jupiter, is 4 kilometers in diameter and travels through space at a speed of 20 km per second.

India among 10 nations on doomsday asteroid target

India among 10 nations on doomsday asteroid target

Rediff.com18 May 2012

Observations from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer have led to the best assessment yet of our solar system's population of potentially hazardous asteroids. The results reveal new information about their total numbers, origins and the possible dangers they may pose.

Earth's near encounter with asteroid on Friday

Earth's near encounter with asteroid on Friday

Rediff.com14 Feb 2013

An asteroid, about half the size of a football field, will pass in close proximity to Earth, closer than the orbits of some geosynchronous satellites, on Friday night.

The bus-sized asteroid that nearly hit earth!

The bus-sized asteroid that nearly hit earth!

Rediff.com28 Jun 2011

An asteroid the size of a tour bus zipped past the Earth in a flyby so close that it was\\nnearer to the planet than some satellites, National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientists have said.

Bus-sized asteroid to pass close to Earth

Bus-sized asteroid to pass close to Earth

Rediff.com26 Jun 2011

The asteroid 2011 MD will pass only 12,000 kilometres (7,500 miles) above Earth's surface at around 6.56 pm on Monday, Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators Director C B Devgun said.

Town-sized asteroid to hurtle past earth

Town-sized asteroid to hurtle past earth

Rediff.com4 May 2004

Toutatis is about 2.9 miles long and 1.5 miles wide (4.6X2.4 kilometres). It looks something like a dumbbell hurtling awkwardly through space. It has a crazy rotation that makes normal days impossible.

PHOTOS: 34-km-wide asteroid flies past earth

PHOTOS: 34-km-wide asteroid flies past earth

Rediff.com1 Feb 2012

34-km-wide Eros, the second largest near-earth asteroid, had a fly by of earth and can now be seen in the constellations Leo, Sextans and Hydra.

China's Chang'e-2 travels past asteroid in deep space

China's Chang'e-2 travels past asteroid in deep space

Rediff.com15 Dec 2012

Chang'e-2 had gone past the moon after completing its mission and flew by the asteroid Toutatis on December 13, which the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND) claimed was the first time a space ship flew by the asteroid, named after a Celtic God.

'Set up system to warn asteroids hitting earth'

'Set up system to warn asteroids hitting earth'

Rediff.com25 Sep 2007

A space expert has suggested setting up a system, on the lines of the tsunami warning system, to give advance information about asteroids approaching very close to the earth.

Asteroid may hit earth in 2014: British astronomer

Asteroid may hit earth in 2014: British astronomer

Rediff.com3 Sep 2003

2003 QQ47 has a mass of around 2.6 billion tonnes and is 1.2 kilometres wide.

270m Asteroid Apophis to whiz past Earth today

270m Asteroid Apophis to whiz past Earth today

Rediff.com9 Jan 2013

Apophis, an asteroid with an estimated diameter of almost three football fields (270m), will make its close approach to Earth this week.

Did Chandrayaan-3 land on one of the oldest craters of Moon?

Did Chandrayaan-3 land on one of the oldest craters of Moon?

Rediff.com29 Sep 2024

The crater was formed during the Nectarian period, which dates back to 3.85 billion years and is one of the oldest time periods in the Moon's history, the team, including researchers from the Physical Research Laboratory and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ahmedabad, said.

Will This Tell Us About Life's Origins?

Will This Tell Us About Life's Origins?

Rediff.com3 Oct 2023

The asteroid sample will help scientists understand the origin of organics and water that may have seeded life on Earth 4.5 billion years ago.

Is Sunita Williams In Danger?

Is Sunita Williams In Danger?

Rediff.com1 Jul 2024

Astronauts aboard the space station have found themselves facing a foe far tinier than any rogue asteroid: A joint study by IIT-Madras and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory -- under Principal Investigator Kasthuri Venkateswaran -- has revealed that strains of the bacterial species Enterobacter bugandensis, a multi-drug resistant superbug, have been hitting the gym in the microgravity crucible. Though the situation at the ISS is slightly unsettling, holding funeral dirges would be an overkill, says Kumar Abishek.

Can Earth Avoid Killer Space Rocks?

Can Earth Avoid Killer Space Rocks?

Rediff.com20 Jan 2022

Stephen Hawking, in his final book Brief Answers to the Big Questions, considered an asteroid collision to be the biggest threat to the planet. At this point, we are as well prepared as dinosaurs were when a 10-km wide asteroid hit the planet 65 million years ago, notes Kumar Abishek.

Have You Seen Pool Garba?

Have You Seen Pool Garba?

Rediff.com3 Oct 2022

Every week, we bring you fascinating videos, chosen by you, through your likes.

Laapataa Ladies Found On OTT!

Laapataa Ladies Found On OTT!

Rediff.com26 Apr 2024

From Vijay Devarakonda to Kung Fu Panda, Sukanya Verma lists everything you can watch on OTT this week.

Get A Taste Of Nayanthara On OTT

Get A Taste Of Nayanthara On OTT

Rediff.com29 Dec 2023

Stories of friendship, former life and fights against the system dominate the OTT this week. Sukanya Verma lists her recommendations.

ISRO, NASA in talks to place Indian on ISS next year

ISRO, NASA in talks to place Indian on ISS next year

Rediff.com8 Sep 2023

India and the US on Friday said they have started talks to put in place a strategic framework for human space flight by year-end as they plan to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station in 2024.

All About Love Fashion

All About Love Fashion

Rediff.com25 Aug 2021

Designer Gaurav Gupta's Couture 2021/22 pays an ode to universal love.

#TrillionDollarBaby whizzes past Earth

#TrillionDollarBaby whizzes past Earth

Rediff.com20 Jul 2015

Asteroid 2011 UW-158, an asteroid with 90 million tons of platinum core worth over five trillion dollars, hurtled past earth early Monday morning.

Don't believe those September doomsday rumours

Don't believe those September doomsday rumours

Rediff.com20 Aug 2015

Read the story doing the rounds about a destructive asteroid smashing into earth next month? Well, NASA says it is not going to happen, FOR SURE!

371 Films And Shows To Watch!

371 Films And Shows To Watch!

Rediff.com28 Jan 2024

Aseem Chhabra rates the movies he's watched in 2023, and tells you where you can watch them!

NASA plans a hitchhike across the galaxy. Here's how

NASA plans a hitchhike across the galaxy. Here's how

Rediff.com6 Sep 2015

National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientists have designed the concept of a spacecraft that would hitch rides on comets and asteroids by spearing them with tethers.

Doomsday delayed till 2068!

Doomsday delayed till 2068!

Rediff.com8 Oct 2009

The good news that Tholen came up with is that the estimated probability of asteroid Apophis colliding with Earth in 2036 has been reduced from 1 chance in about 45,000 to 1 chance in about 250,000.

World lauds ISRO for Chandrayaan-3's success

World lauds ISRO for Chandrayaan-3's success

Rediff.com23 Aug 2023

India scripted history as the ambitious third Moon mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) touched down on the Moon's south pole, propelling the country to an exclusive club of four and making it the first nation to land on the uncharted surface.

An Indian mission to Venus?

An Indian mission to Venus?

Rediff.com19 Jul 2015

India, with its demonstrated capabilities of undertaking low cost high value inter-planetary travel, offers great opportunities for NASA to work with.

Ice or alien life? 2 bright spots on Ceres baffle scientists

Ice or alien life? 2 bright spots on Ceres baffle scientists

Rediff.com12 May 2015

Ice? Volcano? Or Alien life? The discovery of two bright spots on Ceres -- the dwarf planet in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter that happens to be the largest body in that asteroid belt -- has baffled scientists and space enthusiasts.