Huge Asteroid Spins Impossibly Fast, Sets Rotation Record
Source: newscientist.com
- Vera Rubin Observatory spotted 2025 MN45, a 710-meter-wide asteroid rotating every 1.88 minutes.
- It's the fastest-spinning asteroid over 500 meters ever found, defying typical rubble pile structures.
- Rapid spin reveals it's made of solid rock-like material, hinting at violent origins.
The Vera Rubin Observatory's early data uncovered 19 superfast rotating asteroids, including a massive one called 2025 MN45 that spins quicker than any of its size on record. This discovery showcases the observatory's power to detect faint, distant objects and probe their hidden strengths. It matters because spin rates unlock secrets about asteroid makeup and solar system history.