The city-killing asteroid swarm hiding near Earth’s neighbouring planet

WorldSpace
5 Jun 2025 • 9:31 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • A new study warns that a swarm of large, undiscovered asteroids near Venus could pose a future threat to Earth.
  • These co-orbital asteroids, likely originating from the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, are estimated to be over 140 metres in size, capable of causing city-sized damage upon impact.
  • Scientists have discovered around 20 asteroids orbiting Venus, but suspect many more remain hidden due to the Sun's glare.
  • Computer simulations suggest that these hidden asteroids could change trajectories, potentially leading to a collision course with Earth over millennia.
  • Researchers hope the Rubin Observatory and future Venus-based space missions will help detect these obscured asteroids and better assess the risk they pose.

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