Astronomers Discover Record-Breaking, Rapidly Spinning Asteroid
Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery, unveiling a massive asteroid that has set a new record for its rapid rotation on its axis. Measuring 710 meters in width, approximately half a mile, this space rock completes one rotation in under two minutes, earning it the title of the fastest-spinning asteroid with a diameter exceeding 500 meters ever discovered.
This remarkable find was made possible by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, which has enabled researchers to detect 19 large, fast-rotating asteroids. The discovery was presented at the annual American Astronomical Society meeting and published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. The asteroid’s exceptional spin rate has sparked interest among scientists, who believe it may be composed of solid rock, a surprising finding given that most asteroids are thought to be conglomerations of rock, dust, ice, and debris.
According to Sarah Greenstreet, an assistant astronomer at NOIRLab, “Clearly, this asteroid must be made of material that has very high strength in order to keep it in one piece as it spins so rapidly.” The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is poised to revolutionize astronomical research, commencing a 10-year survey of the night sky later this year.

A giant asteroid has sent astronomers into a spin, setting a record for how fast it rotates on its axis
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