Journalists in Belgium report that a team of astronomers at the University of Liège, along with international colleagues, has announced the discovery of a population of 138 of the smallest asteroids ever recorded between Mars and Jupiter. These celestial bodies have a diameter of only about 10 meters, marking the smallest group ever observed in the asteroid belt.
This discovery was made possible by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) from NASA, which has extremely high sensitivity for observing infrared light. Initially, these images were captured to study the Trappist exoplanet system, but upon further analysis, they yielded unexpected results: a previously unknown asteroid population.
Despite their small size, asteroids are celestial bodies that still pose significant risks. (Illustrative image).
Emmanuel Jehin, a planetary scientist at the University of Liège, stated that previously, it was only possible to detect and record asteroids larger than 1 km in the main belt. The discovery of smaller asteroids helps us better understand the origins of meteorites that fall to Earth and improve our ability to protect the planet from threats from space.
Even though they are small, these asteroids still pose significant risks, especially when gravitational forces from Mars and Jupiter can divert them from stable orbits. It is estimated that about 50 million asteroids with a diameter of 1 meter exist in space, with an average frequency of one asteroid colliding with Earth every two weeks. For larger asteroids, approximately 10 meters in diameter, the risk of collision decreases but still occurs on average once every decade.
Marco Micheli, an expert at the European Space Agency (ESA), noted that thanks to JWST, scientists can accurately calculate the orbits of these asteroids from a great distance, thus improving forecasting and response capabilities against potential threats.
This discovery has opened up new solutions for protecting Earth. Currently, scientists have developed methods to alter the orbits of celestial bodies at risk of collision, such as a recent successful experiment on a real asteroid. However, most of these efforts remain focused on larger asteroids, while smaller asteroids – which make up the overwhelming majority – have not received adequate attention.
The research team believes that the newly discovered asteroids may contain unique characteristics. Some could potentially become near-Earth objects, and may even be “Trojan” asteroids – those that share an orbit with Jupiter.
Thomas Müller, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, remarked that data from JWST not only aids in discovering small asteroids but also opens the door to understanding how they form and exist through cosmic collisions.
Julien de Wit, a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), shared that the team was surprised by the number of asteroids discovered, which far exceeded initial predictions. According to him, this indicates that they are approaching a new asteroid population, formed from successive collisions in space.
These results highlight the tremendous potential of the James Webb Telescope in exploring the universe and protecting our “blue planet.”
