Vera Rubin Observatory discovers record-fast spinning asteroid 2025 MN45

The Vera Rubin Observatory has discovered asteroid 2025 MN45, a roughly 0.4‑mile (≈0.64 km) object that completes a full rotation every 1.88 minutes. Time‑series observations identify 2025 MN45 as a record‑fast spinning asteroid and provide precise rotation and size measurements for the object.

Discovered 2026-01-08T09:13:46.541269-08:00 | 2026-01-08T09:13:46.541269-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • Provides exact rotation and size metrics — ~0.4 miles and a 1.88‑minute spin — important quantitative inputs for orbit propagation, tracking and physical modelling of small near‑Earth bodies.
  • Adds to the growing dataset on extreme rotators at a time when surveys have catalogued the 40,000th near‑Earth asteroid, improving population statistics for hazard assessment.
  • Underscores the detection and characterization capabilities of wide‑field surveys and complements work highlighting detection blind spots for "twilight" objects that can approach Earth unseen.

Reported By

Universe Today Times of India Space.com
Sources Tracked
3
First Seen
2026-01-08T09:13:46.541269-08:00
Latest Update
2026-01-12T08:31:39.282177-08:00
Coverage
Space

Sources

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