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USA Today
09-06-2025
- Science
- USA Today
NASA tracks stadium-size asteroid passing near Earth: Here's how to watch it live
NASA tracks stadium-size asteroid passing near Earth: Here's how to watch it live The asteroid, dubbed 2002 JX8, makes close approaches to both Earth and Venus relatively often. An asteroid about the length of three football fields is due to pass closely – but safely – by Earth in a matter of hours. Talk of asteroids coming too close for comfort to Earth may remind people of asteroid 2024 YR4, which became infamous earlier in 2025 when astronomers calculated a slight chance of it impacting with Earth. But while YR4 was eventually ruled out as a threat during its flyby in 2032, the asteroid passing Earth on Friday, May 9, never posed any danger to begin with. The gigantic space rock, which NASA compares to the size of a stadium, has a diameter of about 950 feet It may not be on a menacing trajectory, but it will still come close enough to Earth to warrant astronomers keeping a close eye on it as it whizzes by within about 2.6 million miles of our world. Here's everything to know about the asteroid, how the public can track it going by and why NASA keeps a close eye on inbound space rocks. NASA JPL in California tracks asteroid The asteroid, dubbed 2002 JX8, makes close approaches to both Earth and Venus relatively often, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, managed by Caltech in California. It's last trip near Earth came about two years ago, May 27, 2023, and after the 2025 flyby, it'll be about another two years until we see 2002 JX8 again on April 15, 2027. How to watch asteroid fly by Earth The asteroid is much too small and far away to see without a telescope. But those who want to catch a glimpse of the asteroid, even if it's virtual, still have a chance. The Virtual Telescope Project plans to stream the event live on YouTube. The video won't show the asteroid itself, but it will allow viewers to distinguish 2002 JX8 as a tiny dot moving past stars that appear as even tinier dots in the background. The organization will go live at 4:30 p.m. ET. Here's where to watch it: What are 'potentially hazardous' asteroids? The asteroid 2002 JX8 is large enough for NASA to deem it as "potentially hazardous" space object. The JPL lab tracks any asteroids or comets with orbits that will bring them within 4.6 million miles of Earth, or 19.5 times the distance to the moon. Its Asteroid Watch dashboard displays the date of the next five closest approaches, as well as each object's approximate diameter and its distance from Earth. After asteroid 2002 JX8, the next four asteroids slated to pass by Earth are relatively small – no bigger than a house. Any object larger than about 150 meters (about 492 feet) that can approach the Earth to within this distance becomes potentially hazardous, according to the lab. Most asteroids orbit within the main asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. But some follow paths that circulate into the inner solar system, including so-called near-Earth asteroids, according to NASA. How might NASA, other agencies mount a planetary defense? YR4 and its much larger cousin, the equally infamous Apophis were the most alarming space rocks astronomers have discovered and studied for decades. Now that they have been ruled out as threats to Earth, astronomers still studying such imposing space rocks could help the world's space agencies prepare to mount a planetary defense if the need ever arose. NASA and the European Space Agency both plan to send uncrewed spacecraft to observe Apophis in the years ahead to map and study its surface to gain further insights into near-Earth asteroids. Protecting Earth from incoming space rocks could look a little like the test NASA pulled off in 2022 when it demonstrated that it was possible to nudge an incoming asteroid out of harm's way by slamming a spacecraft into one as part of its Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART. As of October, a craft from the European Space Agency is on the way to get an up-close look at the asteroid's remnants. NASA is additionally working on an asteroid-hunting telescope known as the NEO Surveyor to find near-Earth objects capable of causing significant damage. Now set to launch no earlier than 2027, the telescope is designed to discover 90% of asteroids and comets that are 460 feet in size or larger and come within 30 million miles of Earth's orbit. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@
NDTV
08-06-2025
- Science
- NDTV
NASA Captures Mars Volcano Twice The Height Of Earth's Tallest Peaks
NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter has captured a stunning picture of a 20-kilometer-high volcano, peeping through the clouds on the Red Planet. The image captured from the upper atmosphere at dawn, shows a green haze with Arsia Mons standing roughly twice as tall as Earth's largest volcano, Mauna Loa, located in Hawaii, which rises nine kilometers above the seafloor. At 120 kilometres wide, the Arsia Mons summit caldera is also larger than many volcanoes on Earth. The panorama image taken on May 2, using the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), shows the planet's massive volcano for the first time. Arsia Mons is the southernmost of the Tharsis volcanoes and cloudiest of the three. 'We picked Arsia Mons hoping we would see the summit poke above the early morning clouds. And it didn't disappoint,' said Jonathon Hill of Arizona State University in Tempe, operations lead for THEMIS. Researchers said the clouds are especially thick over Arsia Mons when the Red Planet is farthest from the sun, a period called aphelion. "Understanding Mars' clouds is particularly important for understanding Martian weather and how phenomena like dust storms occur," NASA stated. Something big is peeking through Martian clouds. 🌋 The Odyssey orbiter captured a stunning view of Arsia Mons, a volcano that dwarfs the tallest ones here on Earth. This perspective helps scientists study how dust and ice clouds change over the seasons. — NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) June 6, 2025 Also Read | US Researcher Proposes Detonating Massive Nuclear Bomb Under Ocean To Save Earth The Odyssey orbiter was launched in 2001 and is regarded as the longest-running mission orbiting another planet. To click the picture, the orbiter rotates 90 degrees while in orbit so that its camera, built to study the Martian surface, can capture it cleanly. The angle of the camera allows scientists to see dust and water ice cloud layers, enabling them to observe changes over the course of seasons. 'We're seeing some really significant seasonal differences in these horizon images,' said planetary scientist Michael D. Smith of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. 'It's giving us new clues to how Mars' atmosphere evolves over time.'
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Jupiter was once double in size and 50 times the magnetic power; key details inside: Study
Source: canva New research uncovers a dramatic fact about our solar system's biggest planet, Jupiter, with a diameter of 142,984 kilometres, which is about eleven times larger than Earth's diameter. It was previously almost twice its present size and possessed a magnetic field 50 times greater than it does now. The findings were made in a study by astronomers Konstantin Batygin (Caltech) and Fred C. Adams (University of Michigan), which appeared in Nature Astronomy and is otherwise described in outlets such as Caltech News and arXiv. Their study of Jupiter's small inner moons, especially the slightly inclined orbits of Amalthea and Thebe, enabled them to make a rough estimate of the early size of the planet and its strong magnetism. This condition probably prevailed some 3.8 million years after the solar system's first solid particles condensed. A magnetic force that could fry a spacecraft? What? credit: canva Jupiter's early magnetic field strength is estimated at around 21 millitesla—roughly 50 times stronger than its current field. Such intense magnetism would have generated severe radiation belts that could easily disable or destroy an unprotected spacecraft. Even today, NASA missions like Juno contend with Jupiter's radiation by using heavily shielded electronics housed in specially designed vaults (NASA JPL). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kickstart your new journey with the Honda Shine 125 Honda Learn More Undo The magnetic history of Jupiter's field highlights that planetary magnetism must be taken into account not only in mission planning but also in comprehending the way planets engage with their surroundings and shape the solar system's architecture. Shaping the solar system credit: canva Jupiter's gravitational and magnetic influence during its giant early stage would almost certainly have had a long-term effect on the structure of the solar system. Its size and power would have affected the orbits of objects close to it, aborted planet formation in some areas, and influenced protoplanetary material trajectories. This comes in line with the "core accretion" gas giant formation model, backing up theories that Jupiter was at the centre of being a solar system architect. The findings add richness to how the early solar system developed, and highlight Jupiter's spot at the centre. What conclusions do these findings suggest? These findings not only rewrite our understanding of the solar system, let alone our knowledge about Jupiter's formative years. This study opens new arenas in the exoplanetary systems. By analysing how gas giants like Jupiter evolved so dramatically, scientists can refine models across the galaxy. As our space agencies begin to prosper and gear up for future missions to the moon and planets such as Jupiter, this insight will be important in navigating the planet's complex environment and will further unlock secrets of planetary systems that go beyond our knowledge
Mid East Info
25-04-2025
- Science
- Mid East Info
Second Day of ‘Machines Can See 2025' Showcases Spatial AI, Robotics and Ethical Frontiers as Summit Closes in Dubai
The final day of the 'Machines Can See 2025' summit concluded with 3,500 delegates from 45 countries attending the summit at the Museum of the Future, while online engagement reached new heights, with over 3.5 million views on day one and more than 1.2 million views on day two. Real-time updates via the #MCS2025 hashtag are projected to exceed 5 million views across both days. The summit took place during the inaugural Dubai AI Week event organized by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, an initiative overseen by the Dubai Future Foundation. Mixed‑reality opener sets the pace The day began with an immersive keynote from Marco Tempest, Creative Technologist at NASA JPL, who fused holography and large language models to illustrate how 'playful' interfaces make advanced AI relatable to non‑experts. 'Magic is just undiscovered code,' Tempest told the packed auditorium, spotlighting the summit's core theme of translating research into human‑centred experiences. Robotics and spatial computing take centre stage A follow‑on panel — 'Robots: Are We Ready?' — gave attendees a front‑row view of real‑world autonomy. Prof. Sami Haddadin (MBZUAI) demonstrated dexterous cobots for precision assembly, whereas entrepreneur Lior Wolf previewed humanoid service assistants designed for retail environments. Prof. Marc Pollefeys (ETH Zurich & Microsoft) unveiled state‑of‑the‑art Spatial AI algorithms capable of building millisecond‑level 3‑D maps — critical for household robotics and next‑generation AR glasses. Government underscores ethical mandate In morning remarks, H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, reiterated that 'AI without human values is a compass with no direction.' His call for ethics‑first development reverberated through afternoon sessions on trustworthy AI and adversarial‑attack defence. Research highlights push the frontier Prof. Michal Irani (Weizmann Institute) showed how models can reconstruct complex scenes from a single gaze sequence, edging AI closer to human‑like perception. Prof. Andrea Vedaldi (University of Oxford) introduced a 3‑D generative‑AI pipeline for high‑fidelity digital twins, while Prof. Deva Ramanan (Carnegie Mellon) demonstrated multimodal sensor fusion for real‑time decision‑making in dynamic environments. Namik Hrle (IBM) wrapped up the main‑stage keynotes with a forward look at vector databases, sovereign model 'gardens,' and edge‑trained chips that could shrink latency to microseconds. Workshops deepen technical skill sets Parallel tracks remained full throughout the day. NVIDIA's hands‑on lab dissected a platform approach to deploying generative AI in production. AWS guided developers through Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) and agentic‑AI patterns for the enterprise.A second X (formerly Twitter) session explored Grok‑powered predictive streaming, while Dubai Police's data‑forensics workshop demonstrated machine‑vision pipelines for DNA decoding. Climate tech, computer vision and security panels round out agenda Expert round‑tables tackled Beyond Climate Change innovations in green technology and dove into the year's breakthroughs in computer vision, while Rob van der Veer led a live 'red team vs. blue team' demonstration during the Defending Intelligence panel on adversarial machine learning. Landmark Agreements Announced Live on Stage Polynome Group officially launched AI Academy, a strategic educational initiative developed in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi School of Management and supported by NVIDIA's Deep Learning Institute. The Academy will offer short executive seminars and a specialized four‑month Mini‑MBA in Artificial Intelligence, aimed at equipping leaders and innovators with practical AI knowledge to bridge the gap between technology research and commercial application. Creative‑tech track draws art and media innovators Running in parallel at the 'Machines Can Create' stage, sessions such as 'Pixels & Palettes: The Canvas of Tomorrow' and 'Code Couture' examined how AI, blockchain and VR are reshaping luxury fashion and digital art, featuring speakers from IBM Research, The Sandbox and HEC Paris. Closing reflections and next steps In final remarks, Hao Li (MBZUAI) and Prof. Merouane Debbah thanked delegates for 'turning Dubai into a living laboratory for responsible AI,' while Tempest sent attendees off with a challenge: 'The future belongs to curious minds and bold builders — keep experimenting.' Polynome Group confirmed that planning is already underway for the 2026 edition and for regional satellite workshops that will extend the summit's science‑to‑solution model to new markets. About Machines Can See 2025 Organised by Polynome Group, Machines Can See is the Middle East's premier science‑driven AI summit, designed to connect researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and governments in pursuit of responsible, market‑ready innovation. The UAE's AI sector is projected to expand by US $8.4 billion over the next two years; the summit serves as a catalyst for that growth by blending high‑level policy dialogue with technical deep dives and live product showcases.
Zawya
24-04-2025
- Science
- Zawya
Second Day of ‘Machines Can See 2025' Showcases Spatial AI, robotics and ethical frontiers as summit closes in Dubai
Dubai: The final day of the 'Machines Can See 2025' summit concluded with 3,500 delegates from 45 countries attending the summit at the Museum of the Future, while online engagement reached new heights, with over 3.5 million views on day one and more than 1.2 million views on day two. Real-time updates via the #MCS2025 hashtag are projected to exceed 5 million views across both days. The summit took place during the inaugural Dubai AI Week event organized by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, an initiative overseen by the Dubai Future Foundation. Mixed‑reality opener sets the pace The day began with an immersive keynote from Marco Tempest, Creative Technologist at NASA JPL, who fused holography and large language models to illustrate how 'playful' interfaces make advanced AI relatable to non‑experts. 'Magic is just undiscovered code,' Tempest told the packed auditorium, spotlighting the summit's core theme of translating research into human‑centred experiences. Robotics and spatial computing take centre stage A follow‑on panel — 'Robots: Are We Ready?' — gave attendees a front‑row view of real‑world autonomy. Prof. Sami Haddadin (MBZUAI) demonstrated dexterous cobots for precision assembly, whereas entrepreneur Lior Wolf previewed humanoid service assistants designed for retail environments. Prof. Marc Pollefeys (ETH Zurich & Microsoft) unveiled state‑of‑the‑art Spatial AI algorithms capable of building millisecond‑level 3‑D maps — critical for household robotics and next‑generation AR glasses. Government underscores ethical mandate In morning remarks, H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, reiterated that 'AI without human values is a compass with no direction.' His call for ethics‑first development reverberated through afternoon sessions on trustworthy AI and adversarial‑attack defence. Research highlights push the frontier Prof. Michal Irani (Weizmann Institute) showed how models can reconstruct complex scenes from a single gaze sequence, edging AI closer to human‑like perception. Prof. Andrea Vedaldi (University of Oxford) introduced a 3‑D generative‑AI pipeline for high‑fidelity digital twins, while Prof. Deva Ramanan (Carnegie Mellon) demonstrated multimodal sensor fusion for real‑time decision‑making in dynamic environments. Namik Hrle (IBM) wrapped up the main‑stage keynotes with a forward look at vector databases, sovereign model 'gardens,' and edge‑trained chips that could shrink latency to microseconds. Workshops deepen technical skill sets Parallel tracks remained full throughout the day. NVIDIA's hands‑on lab dissected a platform approach to deploying generative AI in production. AWS guided developers through Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) and agentic‑AI patterns for the enterprise.A second X (formerly Twitter) session explored Grok‑powered predictive streaming, while Dubai Police's data‑forensics workshop demonstrated machine‑vision pipelines for DNA decoding. Climate tech, computer vision and security panels round out agenda Expert round‑tables tackled Beyond Climate Change innovations in green technology and dove into the year's breakthroughs in computer vision, while Rob van der Veer led a live 'red team vs. blue team' demonstration during the Defending Intelligence panel on adversarial machine learning. Landmark Agreements Announced Live on Stage Polynome Group officially launched AI Academy, a strategic educational initiative developed in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi School of Management and supported by NVIDIA's Deep Learning Institute. The Academy will offer short executive seminars and a specialized four‑month Mini‑MBA in Artificial Intelligence, aimed at equipping leaders and innovators with practical AI knowledge to bridge the gap between technology research and commercial application. Creative‑tech track draws art and media innovators Running in parallel at the 'Machines Can Create' stage, sessions such as 'Pixels & Palettes: The Canvas of Tomorrow' and 'Code Couture' examined how AI, blockchain and VR are reshaping luxury fashion and digital art, featuring speakers from IBM Research, The Sandbox and HEC Paris. Closing reflections and next steps In final remarks, Hao Li (MBZUAI) and Prof. Merouane Debbah thanked delegates for 'turning Dubai into a living laboratory for responsible AI,' while Tempest sent attendees off with a challenge: 'The future belongs to curious minds and bold builders — keep experimenting.' Polynome Group confirmed that planning is already underway for the 2026 edition and for regional satellite workshops that will extend the summit's science‑to‑solution model to new markets. About Machines Can See 2025 Organised by Polynome Group, Machines Can See is the Middle East's premier science‑driven AI summit, designed to connect researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and governments in pursuit of responsible, market‑ready innovation. The UAE's AI sector is projected to expand by US $8.4 billion over the next two years; the summit serves as a catalyst for that growth by blending high‑level policy dialogue with technical deep dives and live product showcases.
