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3 city-killing asteroids could strike Earth within weeks — generating a million times more energy than Hiroshima atomic bomb

3 city-killing asteroids could strike Earth within weeks — generating a million times more energy than Hiroshima atomic bomb

New York Post4 days ago

Good things don't come in threes.
Venus is concealing at least three city-killer asteroids that could strike Earth in weeks without warning, potentially wreaking havoc upon our planet before we can react.
'Twenty co-orbital asteroids (space rocks in the orbit of two celestial bodies) of Venus are currently known,' the authors warned in the arockcalyptic study, which was published in the journal 'Astronomy and Astrophysics.'
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The international research team, led by Valerio Carruba of Sao Paolo University in Brazil, wrote that at least three of the asteroids — 2020 SB, 524522, and 2020 CL1 — that circle the Sun in tandem with our twin planet have unstable orbits that take them dangerously close to Earth, The Daily Mail reported.
3 An asteroid streaking toward Earth. 'We aim to assess the possible threat that the yet undetected population of Venus co-orbiters may pose to Earth, and to investigate their detectability from Earth and space observatories,' the authors wrote.
Vadimsadovski – stock.adobe.com
If this shaky trajectory is shifted only slightly by a small gravitational change or other force, they could be set on a collision course with our planet, per the study.
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'Co-orbital status protects these asteroids from close approaches to Venus, but it does not protect them from encountering Earth,' the researchers warned, according to the Daily Galaxy.
Carruba and co came to this conclusion by using imitation space rocks to simulate a range of possible outcomes over 36,000 years, finding that there is a sizable population of low-eccentricity asteroids — those previously thought to be harmless — that could be propelled toward Earth via gravitational shifts and other factors.
3 Venus (pictured) is concealing the space rocks in its orbit.
revers_jr – stock.adobe.com
To make matters worse, the aforementioned cosmic rocks' orbits make them almost invisible to Earthly detection devices.
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While scientists at NASA and other space agencies routinely track potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids, the telescopes can't spot rocks in a sub-orbital path with Venus due to the sun's glare, which shields them like a cosmic cloaking device, WION reported.
3 A diagram showing the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
NASA/LPI
Due to this interstellar blindspot, the Rubin Observatory in Chile would have only two to four weeks to spot deadly asteroids, leaving us little time if they were on a collision course.
For reference, a mission to engineer something that could deflect a killer space rock generally takes years to formulate.
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'Low-e (low eccentricity) Venus co-orbitals pose a unique challenge, because of the difficulties in detecting and following these objects from Earth,' the authors write in their conclusion.
It would be bad news if one of these intergalactic gravelstones hit home.
Asteroids 2020 SB, 524522, and 2020 CL1, measure between 330 and 1,300 feet in diameter, making each one capable of destroying entire cities and causing massive fires and tsunamis, the Daily Mail reported.
An impact would leave a crater over two miles wide and generate one million times more energy than the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945.
Unfortunately, due to the constraints of terrestrial monitoring equipment, we may have to look to the stars for a solution.
'We believe that only a dedicated observational campaign from a space-based mission near Venus could potentially map and discover all the still 'invisible' PHA (potentially hazardous asteroids) among Venus' co-orbital asteroids,' the authors wrote.
However, the powers that be better hurry as researchers predict that co-orbital asteroids' orbits could become unpredictable in just over 150 years — a blip in the interstellar timescale.

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Trump Administration Live Updates: Trump to Withdraw Elon Musk's Ally as Nominee for Top NASA Job
Trump Administration Live Updates: Trump to Withdraw Elon Musk's Ally as Nominee for Top NASA Job

New York Times

time43 minutes ago

  • New York Times

Trump Administration Live Updates: Trump to Withdraw Elon Musk's Ally as Nominee for Top NASA Job

Mr. Trump told associates he intended to pull the nomination of Jared Isaacman after learning from allies of his donations to prominent Democrats. President Trump on Saturday said that he planned to withdraw his nomination of Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur and close associate of Elon Musk's, to be the next NASA administrator, days before Mr. Isaacman's expected confirmation to the role by the Senate. Mr. Trump in recent days told associates he intended to yank Mr. Isaacman's nomination after being told that he had donated to prominent Democrats, according to three people with knowledge of the deliberations who were not authorized to discuss them publicly. Mr. Trump said on social media on Saturday that he had conducted a 'thorough review of prior associations' before deciding to withdraw the nomination. Mr. Trump added that he would 'soon announce a new Nominee who will be Mission aligned, and put America First in Space.' The U-turn was the latest example of how Mr. Trump uses loyalty as a key criterion for top administration roles, and came at a fraught moment for the space agency. NASA has so far been spared the deep cuts that have hit the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and other federal research agencies. But the Trump administration's budget proposal for 2026 seeks to slice the space agency's budget by one-quarter, lay off thousands of employees and end financing for a slew of current and future missions. The Trump administration also wants to overhaul NASA's human spaceflight program, ending the Space Launch System rocket and Orion crew capsule initiatives after the Artemis III mission that is to land astronauts on the moon in 2027 and adding money to send astronauts to Mars in the coming years, something that had been a priority for Mr. Musk. People inside and outside NASA had hoped that Mr. Isaacman's arrival as administrator would help provide stability and a clearer direction for the agency, which has been operating under an acting administrator since the beginning of Mr. Trump's term. Image The Trump administration wants to overhaul NASA's human spaceflight program. Credit... Steve Nesius/Reuters Mr. Isaacman, who declined to comment when reached by phone on Saturday, was informed of the decision on Friday, which was also Mr. Musk's last day in the White House as a special government employee. Even if Mr. Trump announces a new choice relatively soon, the agency will now face several more months before a top leader is in place. Mr. Trump told associates he had learned from allies that Mr. Isaacman had donated to Democrats, including Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona and former Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, as well as the California Democratic Party, during the past two campaign cycles, the people with knowledge of the deliberations said. Mr. Trump told advisers he was surprised he had not been told about those donations previously, two people briefed on the matter said, neither of whom was authorized to discuss the matter. Sergio Gor, the director of the Presidential Personnel Office who has clashed with Mr. Musk over nominees, supported Mr. Trump's moving to withdraw the nomination, two other people briefed on the matter said. An aide to Mr. Musk did not respond to a message seeking comment. Installing Mr. Isaacman, 42, at NASA was one of the biggest benefits that Mr. Musk had pulled off for himself. The space agency previously had a $25 billion budget and is crucial to Mr. Musk's rocket business, SpaceX. Mr. Isaacman, a pilot who has privately flown to space twice with SpaceX, ingratiated himself with the president by giving $2 million to Mr. Trump's inaugural committee. It would be an extraordinary move to withdraw the nomination, given that Mr. Isaacman had already been approved by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee with a 19-to-9 vote. He was scheduled to be confirmed by the full Senate next week. It will also be a test case for how much of Mr. Musk's influence remains in a White House where he is no longer physically working as an adviser. Mr. Trump told Mr. Musk on Friday that he intended to pull back Mr. Isaacman's nomination, according to a person with knowledge of their conversation. Mr. Isaacman is the chief executive of the payment processing company Shift4 Payments, and Mr. Trump lauded him when he announced his selection in December. 'Jared will drive NASA's mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in Space science, technology, and exploration,' Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social at the time. Mr. Musk lobbied for Mr. Isaacman's selection directly with Mr. Trump, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions. Mr. Trump is said to have deferred to Mr. Musk on the choice, contending that he was knowledgeable about space because of his success with SpaceX, the person said. No major speed bumps came up during Mr. Isaacman's nomination hearing in April before the commerce committee. Senator Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican who leads the committee, pushed Mr. Isaacman to acknowledge the goals Congress had set out for NASA, in particular the Artemis program to send astronauts back to the moon in the coming years. Senator Edward Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts, noted the close ties between Mr. Isaacman and his companies and Mr. Musk. He asked several times whether Mr. Musk had been present at Mar-a-Lago in Florida when Mr. Trump offered Mr. Isaacman the NASA position. Mr. Isaacman did not directly reply. He would only say, repeatedly, that his interview had been with Mr. Trump. Mr. Cruz and the other Republicans on the committee voted to advance the nomination, as did four Democrats, including Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, the top Democrat on the panel. On Saturday, allies of Mr. Musk's began publicly defending Mr. Isaacman, trying to change the president's mind about withdrawing the nomination. His defenders included Laura Loomer, the far-right activist who has often been critical of other Trump nominees with histories of supporting Democrats. She posted a lengthy message on X casting Mr. Isaacman's impending removal as a 'deep state' plot to undermine the president. Some Republican lawmakers also rallied to Mr. Isaacman's defense on Saturday. Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana, an ally of Mr. Trump's who serves on the committee that approved Mr. Isaacman's nomination, posted on X that 'astronaut and successful businessman @RookIsaacman was a strong choice by President Trump to lead NASA.' 'I was proud to introduce Jared at his hearing,' Mr. Sheehy added, 'and strongly oppose efforts to derail his nomination.'

Musk praises 'competent and good-hearted' ally Jared Isaacman after Trump drops him as nominee to head NASA
Musk praises 'competent and good-hearted' ally Jared Isaacman after Trump drops him as nominee to head NASA

Business Insider

timean hour ago

  • Business Insider

Musk praises 'competent and good-hearted' ally Jared Isaacman after Trump drops him as nominee to head NASA

Elon Musk has praised his close ally Jared Isaacman after President Donald Trump dropped him as his nominee for NASA administrator on Saturday. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was withdrawing Isaacman's nomination after a "thorough review of prior associations" and that he would soon announced a new, "mission aligned" nominee. News of Trump's decision broke earlier in the day, and Musk was swift to respond. "It is rare to find someone so competent and good-hearted," he wrote in a post on X. Isaacman, the founder of payments company Shift4, was part of the SpaceX Polaris Dawn crew in 2024 and led the first private space walk. In a social media statement Saturday, Isaacman said he was "incredibly grateful to President Trump" and "all those who supported me throughout this journey." "I have gained a much deeper appreciation for the complexities of government and the weight our political leaders carry," he continued, adding: "I have not flown my last mission." Trump had nominated Isaacman in December, calling him an "accomplished business leader" and saying he was "ideally suited to lead NASA" forward. Isaacman's subsequent removal as nominee comes days after Musk said he was stepping back from his role as a "special government employee" in the Trump administration, ending his time with the White House DOGE office. Trump's move appears to have come as a shock to supporters of Isaacman, with some experts questioning what it means for NASA. Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, said missing out on Isaacman was "bad news for the agency." "So not having @rookisaacman as boss of NASA is bad news for the agency. Maybe a good thing for Jared himself though, since being NASA head right now is a bit of a Kobayashi Maru scenario," he wrote on X. Montana Republican Senator Tim Sheehy also took to X to air his support for Isaacman, saying he was a "strong choice" to head NASA and that he "strongly" opposed any efforts to "derail his nomination."

Late-night SpaceX rocket launch in Florida: What time is liftoff, what to know
Late-night SpaceX rocket launch in Florida: What time is liftoff, what to know

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Late-night SpaceX rocket launch in Florida: What time is liftoff, what to know

A rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, is on the horizon — and when this 'so Florida' thing occurs, it's very Instagram-worthy. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will potentially launch a batch of Starlink satellites. Though rockets here blast off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, people beyond the Space Coast can sometimes see this phenomenon. Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, a rocket launch from Florida's Space Coast could be visible from Jacksonville Beach and Daytona Beach to Vero Beach and West Palm Beach (see videos and photo gallery with this story). When there's a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, there's an opportunity for unique photos — the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail after makes for a great photo. Below is more information on rocket launches in Florida and suggestions on where to watch them. Rocket launch tally: Here's a list of all 2025 missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida (psst, there's a lot) For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@ or Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@ For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit Mission: SpaceX will launch the next batch of Starlink internet satellites, a National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational warning shows. Launch window: 12:57 a.m. to 5:28 a.m. EDT Monday, June 2, 2025 Launch location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Trajectory: Southeast Live coverage starts 90 minutes before liftoff at : You can watch live rocket launch coverage from USA TODAY Network's Space Team, which consists of FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and visuals journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will provide up-to-the-minute updates in a mobile-friendly live blog, complete with a countdown clock, at starting 90 minutes before liftoff. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play, or type into your browser. Tom Cruise and untitled SpaceX project: 'Mission: Impossible' star who lives in Florida may shoot a film in outer space Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast, Brevard County, Orlando and other parts of Florida. The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache. In Volusia County, immediately north of Brevard County — home to Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station — you can get a great view of a SpaceX, NASA or United Launch Alliance rocket launch. The best views to watch a rocket launch from here is along the beach. Look due south. Recommended spots: • South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore) • Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park, 6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Bethune Beach is 3.5 miles south of New Smyrna Beach and one mile north of the Apollo Beach entrance to Canaveral National Seashore Park. • Apollo Beach at Canaveral National Seashore (south of New Smyrna Beach). Canaveral National Seashore runs along Florida's East Coast in Volusia County and Brevard County. To access Apollo Beach, take Interstate 95 to exit 249, then travel east until it turns into State Road A1A. Follow SR A1A south to the park entrance. • Oak Hill riverfront is the southernmost city in South Volusia County. • Sunrise Park, 275 River Road, Oak Hill • Goodrich's Seafood and Oyster House back deck, 253 River Road, Oak Hill • Seminole Rest national historic site, 211 River Road, Oak Hill • Riverbreeze Park, 250 H.H. Burch Road, Oak Hill • Mary Dewees Park, 178 N. Gaines St., Oak Hill • Nancy Cummings Park, 232 Cummings St., Oak Hill • Jimmie Vann Sunrise Park, 275 River Road, Oak Hill • A.C. Delbert Dewees Municipal Pier, 243 River Road, Oak Hill • Bird Observation Pier on River Road across from A.C. Delbert Municipal Pier (see above) • Rose Bay in Port Orange, Florida • beaches along New Smyrna Beach, Florida • New Smyrna Beach Inlet, New Smyrna Beach lifeguard station • Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona Beach, Florida • Ormond-by-the-Sea in Ormond Beach, Florida • George R. Kennedy Memorial Park in Edgewater, Florida This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: SpaceX rocket launch in Florida: What time is Cape Canaveral liftoff?

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