Most Wanted

  • Released Thursday, May 17, 2012
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There are about 600,000 asteroids in the solar system. That's roughly one for every person living in Washington, D.C. And with more of these rocky objects being found all the time, it's becoming harder to keep track of them all. That's why NASA scientists have assembled a most-wanted list of about six-dozen asteroids that, with the help of amateur astronomers, will be studied in preparation for the first U.S. asteroid sample return mission. Scheduled for launch in 2016, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will orbit asteroid 1999 RQ36 and collect a sample from the surface that is returned to Earth. Analysis of the primitive material will not only reveal new information about the molecular origins of life and how the early solar system formed, but also provide insight into the behavior and movement of near-Earth objects in space. Watch the video below to see how the spacecraft will obtain a sample from the asteroid.

NASA invites amateur astronomers to investigate key asteroids.

NASA invites amateur astronomers to investigate key asteroids.

Although its composition is unknown, scientists think asteroid 1999 RQ36 is made up of materials present when the solar system formed.

At least 2 ounces of sample will be collected from the asteroid, which is about 1,900 feet in diameter.

At least 2 ounces of sample will be collected from the asteroid, which is about 1,900 feet in diameter.

The asteroid sample will be placed inside a capsule that is jettisoned from the spacecraft and returned to Earth.

The asteroid sample will be placed inside a capsule that is jettisoned from the spacecraft and returned to Earth.

Simulated cratering and topography are overlaid on radar imagery of asteroid 1999 RQ36.

Simulated cratering and topography are overlaid on radar imagery of asteroid 1999 RQ36.

Pop radar! Doppler images, presented in the style of Andy Warhol, show views of asteroid 1999 RQ36 from Earth.

Pop radar! Doppler images, presented in the style of Andy Warhol, show views of asteroid 1999 RQ36 from Earth.

Amateur astronomers can join "Target Asteroids!" which complements observing campaigns by amateurs and NASA's Near-Earth Object Program.

Amateur astronomers can join "Target Asteroids!" which complements observing campaigns by amateurs and NASA's Near-Earth Object Program.

For More Information

See NASA.gov

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Asteroid belt image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle (SSC)
Doppler radar image courtesy of NASA/JPL/Goldstone
Simulated cratering image courtesy of NASA/GSFC/UA/Mike Nolan-Arecibo Observatory/Bob Gaskell-Planetary Science Institute
Spacecraft images courtesy of NASA/GSFC/UA
Astronomers image courtesy of Babak Tafreshi/The World at Night

This page was originally published on Thursday, May 17, 2012.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:53 PM EDT.