A new study suggests that a population of asteroids near Venus could pose a threat to Earth. The research, led by Valerio Carruba at the University of São Paulo, reveals that these “Venus co-orbitals” share a similar path with the planet but are not harmless.
Currently, there are only 20 known co-orbital asteroids of Venus, but the researchers suspect that there may be more. These asteroids have a unique property called a “Lyapunov time,” which means their orbits become chaotic and unpredictable after 150 years. To understand if they pose a threat, the team created digital clones of the asteroids and ran orbital simulations over 36,000 years.
The study found that there is a sizable population of potential co-orbitals with lower eccentricity capable of numerous close encounters – and perhaps collisions – with Earth. However, these asteroids are often hidden by the Sun’s glare and can only be observed during narrow windows.
The Vera Rubin Observatory, set to begin operations in July 2025, may help detect some of these asteroids. Despite its powerful camera, even Rubin won’t be able to catch the whole population. The researchers suggest that a space-based observatory with a constellation design or single spacecraft could be the best way to spot any yet-unobserved asteroids near Venus.
Finding these elusive asteroids isn’t just academic – it’s crucial for planetary defense. Even small asteroids can release city-flattening energy on impact, making their detection vital for protecting our planet.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/venus-harbors-secret-asteroids-that-could-threaten-earth-study-warns-2000607801