Science & Tech · Space · 3 hrs ago
Astronomers identify largest known rapidly spinning asteroid
Astronomers identified asteroid 491384 as the largest known to spin extremely fast, measuring about 2.53 kilometres across.
Observations from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile found that it completes one rotation in 4.18 minutes.
Many asteroids are loose collections of rocks held together by weak gravity, so a fast spin can pull them apart.
For asteroids larger than 150 metres, astronomers have generally considered about 2.2 hours the fastest possible rotation.
A University of Washington team developed software to check asteroid brightness data and filter out unreliable spin estimates.
The asteroid’s speed suggests it has significant internal strength, making it more like solid rock than a loose rubble pile.
The team hopes improved software will help study more asteroids and clarify how these bodies form and evolve.
Astronomers identified asteroid 491384 as the largest known asteroid spinning faster than the theoretical limit.
The asteroid is estimated to be 2.53 kilometres across and completes one rotation in 4.18 minutes.
Researchers at the University of Washington developed software to screen asteroid brightness measurements and filter out unreliable rotation estimates.
Observations by the Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile helped identify the object.
Its rapid spin suggests it needs significant internal strength and may be more like solid rock than a loose pile of rubble.
- Who
- Researchers at the University of Washington and astronomers using observations from the Vera Rubin Observatory.
- What
- They identified asteroid 491384 as the largest known rapidly spinning asteroid. It is about 2.53 kilometres across and rotates in 4.18 minutes.
- When
- Not stated
- Where
- The observations were made at the Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile.
- Why
- New software was developed to filter out unreliable rotation measurements and help identify rapidly spinning asteroids.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Astronomers using the Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile identified rapidly spinning asteroid candidates.
The University of Washington team’s program screened 9,417 asteroids and identified 66 candidates for rapid rotation.
- Asteroid
- 491384
- Estimated diameter
- 2.53 kilometres
- Rotation period
- 4.18 minutes
- Observatory
- Vera Rubin Observatory, Chile
- Software screening
- 9,417 asteroids assessed; 66 rapid-rotation candidates identified
3 sources
What people are saying
To avoid being destroyed by centrifugal forces, this object must have significant internal strength; in its structure it resembles a monolithic rock much more than a loose pile of rubble