Astronomers are vigilantly scanning the skies for asteroids that veer into Earth's solar system neighborhood. But, some are hidden. Most asteroids — leftover rubble from our solar system's formation some 4.6 billion years ago — orbit the sun between Mars and Jupiter. Millions exist out there. But in the inner solar system, asteroids are obscured by the blinding glare from the sun. Now, a new survey of space rocks in regions around the orbits of Venus and Mercury have spotted sizable asteroids in this elusive zone of space. One is nearly a mile wide, the type of "planet-killer" rock that would decimate life on Earth. Fortunately, these rocks don't currently pose any danger to our planet, nor will they for the foreseeable future — though over centuries, or much longer, one of the asteroids' orbits may change and potentially pose a threat.
Mark Kaufman
Science Editor
Mark was the science editor at Mashable. After working as a ranger with the National Park Service, he started a reporting career after seeing the extraordinary value in educating people about the happenings on Earth, and beyond.
He's descended 2,500 feet into the ocean depths in search of the sixgill shark, ventured into the halls of top R&D laboratories, and interviewed some of the most fascinating scientists in the world.
