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Identified in Initial Data of a New Observatory in Chile, the Asteroid About 710 Meters in Diameter Caught the Attention of Scientists by Completing a Rotation in Just 1.88 Minutes, Setting a Record Among Objects of This Size and Providing Relevant Clues About Its Composition and Structural Resistance
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory identified the largest asteroid with the fastest rotation ever recorded, while analyzing an initial set of nearly 2,000 newly-discovered objects, revealing a body of 710 meters that completes a rotation in just 1.88 minutes, even before the official start of its main scientific mission.
Record Detection in the First Data from the Telescope
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory began studying the sky from the top of a mountain in Chile last spring. The first images, released in June, had already caught the attention of the international scientific community.
This initial set of data included observations of nearly 2,000 newly-discovered asteroids. A new study released on Wednesday, January 7, provided unprecedented details about this group.
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The analysis identified 19 asteroids classified as “super-fast rotators,” defined as completing a rotation in less than 2.2 hours. Among them, one object stood out exceptionally.
Asteroid 2025 MN45 Establishes a New Scientific Benchmark
The record-holding body was identified as 2025 MN45. It is about 710 meters in diameter and completes a full rotation every 1.88 minutes, establishing a new benchmark for objects of this size.
With the exception of one case, all newly-discovered super-fast asteroids, including 2025 MN45, are located in the main asteroid belt, situated between Mars and Jupiter.
According to a statement released by NOIRLab, the object is “the asteroid with the fastest rotation and a diameter greater than 500 meters ever found by astronomers.”
The Rubin Observatory is a joint program of NOIRLab with the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, linked to the United States Department of Energy.
What Rotation Reveals About the Structure of Asteroids
The rotation rate of an asteroid provides relevant information about its origin, internal structure, and composition. Extremely fast rotations may indicate violent collision events that fragmented larger bodies in the past.
These measurements also help infer whether an asteroid is made up of a single solid block or a conglomeration of debris held together by gravity.
In the case of 2025 MN45, the extreme speed raised important questions about its structural integrity, given the tendency of objects of this size to disaggregate under intense rotations.
Uncommon Material Challenges Traditional Models
The study leader, Sarah Greenstreet, assistant astronomer at NOIRLab and head of the Near-Earth Objects and Interstellar Objects working group of the Rubin Solar System Science Collaboration, commented on the results in the same statement.
According to her, the asteroid must be composed of a material of extremely high strength to remain intact while spinning so rapidly. Calculations indicate the need for a cohesive force similar to that of solid rock.
This conclusion is surprising because most asteroids are classified as “rubble piles,” formed from numerous smaller fragments held together by gravity during the formation of the solar system or in later collisions, a scenario considered common.
Limits of the Record and Comparison with Smaller Objects
Despite the distinction, 2025 MN45 does not hold the absolute record for the fastest rotation ever observed. Astronomers have already identified much smaller asteroids, measuring a few meters or tens of meters in diameter, that complete rotations in less than a minute.
However, these objects differ significantly in structure and mass, making the performance of 2025 MN45 particularly relevant from a scientific standpoint.
The combination of large diameter and extreme rotation makes it a unique case for studies on cohesion and evolution of rocky bodies in the solar system.
Rubin Capacity Foresees Discoveries of the LSST
The Vera Rubin Observatory is still in the implementation phase and has not yet begun its main scientific mission. The central project is the Legacy Survey of Space and Time, known as LSST, with a planned duration of 10 years.
The survey will produce a high-definition and timelapse record of the universe, using the LSST camera with 3.2 billion pixels, considered the largest digital camera in the world.
According to Aaron Roodman, deputy director of LSST and professor at SLAC, the combination of the camera with the speed of the observatory allows capturing an image every 40 seconds, drastically increasing detection capability.
Publication and Presentation of Results
The study was published on Wednesday in the journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters. The results were also presented during a press conference held on the same day.
The announcement took place during the 247th meeting of the American Astronomical Society, held in Phoenix, Arizona, marking one of the first major scientific revelations associated with the Vera Rubin Observatory.
1,88 minutos é igual a 2 minutos e 38 segundos, correto?
2 minutos e 28 segundos.
Ou 3 minutos e 8 segundos 😁
Tudo mentira
Kkkkkkkkk
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