Asteroid Spinning Impossibly Fast
6 hours ago
- #astronomy
- #space
- #asteroids
- Vera C. Rubin Observatory discovered the fastest-rotating large asteroid (2025 MN45), spinning once every 1.9 minutes.
- The asteroid, 710 meters in diameter, defies the rubble pile model, suggesting it's a solid rock or metal.
- Researchers identified 76 asteroids with reliable rotational periods, including 19 super-fast rotators (≤2.2 hours).
- Three ultra-fast rotators were found with periods of 3.8, 1.92, and 1.88 minutes.
- The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the structural limits of asteroids.
- Rubin Observatory's 10-year survey is expected to uncover more such asteroids, revealing their diversity.