ASTEROIDS AND SIMILAR BODIES RECENT NEWS - January 11th to 20th, 2026

[Saulo Machado]

            

ASTEROIDS AND SIMILAR BODIES RECENT NEWS

January 11th to 20th, 2026

 

 

Dear global community,

 

Here is a periodic compilation of recent news in some languages for the production of lectures, conferences, podcasts/videocasts, reading circles, conversations, and comparisons:

 

 

(ENG)

1/18 - Asteroids and the need for planetary defence

https://today.rtl.lu/news/science-and-environment/asteroids-and-the-need-for-planetary-defence-371642941

 

1/16 - A Simulated Asteroid Impact Reveals the Strength of Iron-Rich Rocks

https://www.universetoday.com/articles/a-simulated-asteroid-impact-reveals-the-strength-of-iron-rich-rocks

 

1/15 - How dark asteroids die

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-dark-asteroids-die.html

 

1/13 - 10 asteroids named to honour ESA’s role in Planetary Defence

https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Planetary_Defence/10_asteroids_named_to_honour_ESA_s_role_in_Planetary_Defence

 

1/12 - Rubin Observatory Spots Fastest Spinning Asteroid Ever

https://www.universetoday.com/articles/rubin-observatory-spots-fastest-spinning-asteroid-ever

 

1/11 - Fast-spinning asteroid 2025 MN45 rewrites rotation record

https://earthsky.org/space/fast-spinning-asteroid-2025-mn45-rotation-record/

 

(DUT)  -  X  -

 

(ESP)  

1/12 - Detectan asteroide gigante que gira a una velocidad nunca antes vista: mide más de 700 metros

https://www.adnradio.cl/2026/01/12/detectan-asteroide-gigante-que-gira-a-una-velocidad-nunca-antes-vista-mide-mas-de-700-metros/

 

(FRE)

1/16 - Face cachée de la Lune : un impact géant pourrait expliquer sa profonde différence

https://www.futura-sciences.com/sciences/actualites/lune-face-cachee-lune-impact-geant-pourrait-expliquer-profonde-difference-130209/

 

1/13 - Une météorite au Prytanée ?

https://www.ouest-france.fr/sciences/astronomie/en-images-une-meteorite-au-prytanee-e09ca53c-f068-11f0-87e6-f801a63b73d7

 

1/11 - Si les ammonites ont survécu à l'astéroïde qui a anéanti les dinosaures, qu'est-ce qui les a vraiment tuées?

https://www.slate.fr/sciences/ammonites-survecu-asteroide-aneanti-dinosaures-mystere-disparition

 

(GER)

1/12 - Asteroiden-Einschlag veränderte die Mondrückseite

https://www.weltraum-aktuell.de/index.php/nachrichten2/1249-asteroiden-einschlag-veraenderte-die-mondrueckseite

 

(ITA)

1/14 - No, non è caduto un meteorite vicino a Bari. Ecco cosa sappiamo

https://www.astrospace.it/2026/01/14/no-non-e-caduto-un-meteorite-vicino-a-bari-ecco-cosa-sappiamo/

 

1/13 - ESA, 10 asteroidi intitolati per celebrare il ruolo nella difesa planetária

https://www.meteoweb.eu/2026/01/esa-10-asteroidi-intitolati-per-celebrare-il-ruolo-nella-difesa-planetaria/1001882399/

 

1/13 - Un meteorite in Puglia? L’esperto fa definitiva chiarezza: “siamo all’assurdo”

https://www.meteoweb.eu/2026/01/un-meteorite-in-puglia-lesperto-fa-definitiva-chiarezza-siamo-allassurdo/1001882210/

 

1/13 - Nomi italiani per 4 dei 10 asteroidi dedicati all'Esa per la difesa planetária

https://www.ansa.it/canale_scienza/notizie/spazio_astronomia/2026/01/13/nomi-italiani-per-4-dei-10-asteroidi-dedicati-allesa-per-la-difesa-planetaria_fff8efcd-e036-4af8-a4ce-4ba9692b0754.html

 

1/13 - Boato e bagliore nel cielo della Puglia, esclusa l'ipotesi meteora

https://www.ansa.it/canale_scienza/notizie/spazio_astronomia/2026/01/13/boato-e-bagliore-nel-cielo-della-puglia-esclusa-lipotesi-meteora-_d8c38d21-d722-4d6b-afac-cb7d3cefa68a.html

 

1/12 - Un impatto gigante potrebbe spiegare l’asimmetria della Luna

https://www.meteoweb.eu/2026/01/un-impatto-gigante-potrebbe-spiegare-lasimmetria-della-luna/1001881932/

 

1/12 - Boato e bagliore in Puglia: cosa è successo veramente? Le ipotesi, le testimonianze e le supposizioni esilaranti

https://www.meteoweb.eu/2026/01/boato-e-bagliore-in-puglia-cosa-e-successo-veramente-le-ipotesi-le-testimonianze-e-le-supposizioni-esilaranti/1001882075/

 

1/12 - Un meteorite nel barese? La posizione della rete Prisma dopo le verifiche

https://www.meteoweb.eu/2026/01/un-meteorite-nel-barese-la-posizione-della-rete-prisma-dopo-le-verifiche/1001882042/

 

(POR)

1/17 - Telescópio Vera Rubin entra em cena: descobriu milhares de asteroides — um dos quais quebrou recorde

https://www.tempo.com/noticias/astronomia/telescopio-vera-rubin-entra-em-cena-descobriu-milhares-de-asteroides-um-dos-quais-quebrou-recorde.html

 

1/13 - Revista internacional publica artigo de doutorando do ON sobre asteroides próximos à Terra

https://www.gov.br/observatorio/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/revista-internacional-publica-artigo-de-doutorando-do-on-sobre-asteroides-proximos-a-terra

 

 

Asteroid missions schedule:

 

- June/26 – Tianwen arrives in Kamoʻoalewa

- December/26 – Hera spacecraft arrives in Dimorphos.

- April/29 – OSIRIS-APEX arrives in Apophis

- August/29 – Psyche spacecraft arrives in Psyche

 

Keep your audience informed about asteroids and planetary defense, always guarding them against misinformation and sensationalist news.

 

Register your event:

https://asteroidday.org/events/event-registration/add

 

Event report:

https://asteroidday.org/event-organizer-information/report-after-an-asteroid-day-event/

 

Best regards,

 

Saulo Machado

Global Event Coordinator