{"id":106118,"date":"2025-10-27T05:29:15","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T05:29:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/106118\/"},"modified":"2025-10-27T05:29:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T05:29:15","slug":"hidden-planet-killer-asteroid-found-in-suns-glare-exposes-dangerous-blind-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/106118\/","title":{"rendered":"Hidden \u2018Planet-Killer\u2019 Asteroid Found in Sun\u2019s Glare Exposes Dangerous Blind Spot"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cTwilight\u201d discovery: Astronomers have spotted a 700-meter-wide asteroid lurking in the sun\u2019s glare, designated 2025 SC79, which orbits the sun in just 128 days \u2013 the second-fastest asteroid orbit known [1]<\/a>. It\u2019s only the second asteroid ever found inside Venus\u2019s orbit, highlighting a dangerous blind spot in our detection capabilities [2]<\/a> [3]<\/a>.Skyscraper-sized threat: At roughly 2,300 feet across, about twice the height of the Empire State Building, this skyscraper-size rock qualifies as a potential \u201cplanet-killer\u201d \u2013 if it ever hit Earth, it could unleash continent-wide devastation [4]<\/a> [5]<\/a>. Scientists say an impact by a 700\u00a0m asteroid might kill millions or even billions in a worst-case scenario [6]<\/a>.Sneaking past our telescopes: 2025\u00a0SC79 remained hidden by the sun\u2019s glare until an astronomer caught it during brief twilight observations [7]<\/a>. Experts warn the most dangerous asteroids are often the hardest to detect \u2013 those approaching from the sun\u2019s direction can slip by our night-focused telescopes unnoticed [8]<\/a>.No imminent impact: Thankfully, 2025\u00a0SC79 is not on a collision course. It will not come near Earth for the foreseeable future, according to orbital calculations [9]<\/a>. It crosses Mercury\u2019s path but stays well inside Earth\u2019s orbit, so no threat to us right now, astronomers stress.Race to plug the gap: The discovery is a wake-up call for planetary defense. NASA is developing the NEO Surveyor space telescope (due to launch by 2027 [10]<\/a>) to hunt asteroids near the sun\u2019s orbit that ground telescopes can\u2019t easily see [11]<\/a>. Governments and startups alike are investing heavily in asteroid detection and deflection efforts.Investor interest skyrockets: The space sector is booming on news like this. Global space startup funding hit a record $3.5\u00a0billion in Q3 2025, and analysts predict momentum into 2026 [12]<\/a> [13]<\/a>. Space-related stocks have surged \u2013 e.g. Intuitive Machines\u2019 stock jumped 16% after a recent Moon mission success, and experts tout companies like Rocket Lab, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin as promising plays in this growing market [14]<\/a>.A \u201cTwilight\u201d Asteroid Breaks Speed Records<\/p>\n

Astronomers are buzzing about 2025\u00a0SC79, a newfound asteroid that\u2019s zipping around the sun at near-record pace. Scott S. Sheppard, an astronomer at Carnegie Science, first spotted the object on September 27 using the Blanco 4-meter telescope in Chile [15]<\/a> [16]<\/a>. What he found was astonishing: an asteroid orbiting the sun in just 128 days, making it the second-fastest asteroid ever recorded [17]<\/a>. Only one known asteroid orbits faster \u2013 2021 PH27, a 1-km rock discovered by Sheppard in 2021 that races around the sun in 113 days [18]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Even Mercury, the innermost planet, takes 88 days for one orbit; asteroids are rarely seen with such short \u201cyears.\u201d In fact, 2025\u00a0SC79 belongs to an ultra-rare category called Atira asteroids \u2013 space rocks that stay entirely inside Earth\u2019s orbit. Scientists have identified only 39 Atira asteroids in total [19]<\/a>, underscoring how uncommon (and hard to find) these objects are. 2025\u00a0SC79 is just the second ever found inside Venus\u2019s orbit, a region almost never surveyed due to the sun\u2019s blinding glare [20]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Crucially, 2025\u00a0SC79 is huge by asteroid standards. Estimates put its diameter around 700\u00a0meters (0.4 miles) [21]<\/a>. That\u2019s roughly the size of a skyscraper or nearly twice the height of the Eiffel Tower. Any asteroid of that scale earns the ominous label \u201cplanet killer\u201d \u2013 not literally capable of destroying a planet, but certainly catastrophic for ours if it struck. (By comparison, the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs was about 10\u00a0km wide, but a 700\u00a0m impact could still devastate an entire region or continent [22]<\/a>.) Thankfully, this particular rock isn\u2019t headed our way (more on that below), yet its discovery has scientists on edge.<\/p>\n

\u201cMeet 2025\u00a0SC79,\u201d Carnegie Science announced in a recent statement, \u201cwhich has the second-fastest unique asteroid orbit in the Solar System. It orbits the Sun in just 128 days!\u201d [23]<\/a> [24]<\/a>. The find showcases Sheppard\u2019s knack for hunting inner solar system objects. He\u2019s made a career of discovering elusive moons and minor planets, and now two record-breaking asteroids as well [25]<\/a>. Each discovery helps illuminate the extreme dynamics of our solar system\u2019s innermost regions.<\/p>\n

Hiding in the Sun\u2019s Glare \u2013 A Dangerous Blind Spot<\/p>\n

What makes 2025\u00a0SC79 especially \u201csneaky\u201d is where it hides. Most asteroid searches are conducted at night, when telescopes can scan dark skies for faint moving dots. But 2025\u00a0SC79 spends its time close to the sun, from our perspective \u2013 which means it\u2019s lost in daytime glare most of the time [26]<\/a>. Astronomers could only catch it during brief twilight periods, just after sunset and before sunrise, when the sun\u2019s light is low enough to not totally wash out the view [27]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This region near the sun has long been a dangerous blind spot for asteroid detection. Scientists have warned that there may be undiscovered \u201ctwilight asteroids\u201d lurking in orbits similar to Venus or Mercury, poised at angles that keep them hidden in solar glare [28]<\/a>. It\u2019s a bit like trying to spot a small moth flying close to a blinding spotlight \u2013 our instruments are nearly blind to anything in that direction. Gayoung Lee, writing for Gizmodo, notes that astronomers can usually spot incoming asteroids well in advance, \u201cbut what happens if they can\u2019t?\u201d \u2013 twilight asteroids present exactly that worrisome scenario [29]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2025\u00a0SC79\u2019s discovery highlights this gap. Sheppard had to use the Dark Energy Camera on the Chilean Blanco telescope during special observation windows to find it [30]<\/a>. Follow-up confirmations came from telescopes in Hawaii and Carnegie\u2019s own Magellan observatory in Chile [31]<\/a>. It\u2019s only the latest proof that \u201cthe most dangerous asteroids are the most difficult to detect,\u201d as Sheppard cautioned [32]<\/a>. \u201cMost asteroid research finds these objects in the dark of night\u2026 But asteroids that lurk near the Sun can only be observed during twilight\u2026 If these \u2018twilight\u2019 asteroids approach Earth, they could pose serious impact hazards.\u201d [33]<\/a><\/p>\n

Scientists have good reason to worry. Earth has been blindsided before: in 2013, a ~20\u00a0m meteor exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia with no warning, injuring 1,200 people \u2013 it came from the direction of the sun, so no one saw it coming. And in July 2019, a 100\u00a0m asteroid named 2019\u00a0OKsurprised astronomers by zooming uncomfortably close to Earth (70,000\u00a0km) shortly after its discovery, prompting renewed calls for better surveys [34]<\/a>. These cases underscore that undiscovered asteroids in solar glare are a real threat.<\/p>\n

2025\u00a0SC79, being orders of magnitude larger than those examples, is precisely the kind of object we want to find decades before any potential encounter \u2013 not days or weeks. Yet if it weren\u2019t for Sheppard\u2019s targeted search, this asteroid could have remained invisible for much longer. Evan Gough of Universe Today puts it bluntly: some asteroids \u201care otherwise hidden in difficult to observe locations\u201d and \u201cunfortunately for life on Earth, some of the most difficult to spot ones are close to us\u201d \u2013 lurking in the sun\u2019s glare [35]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The good news is that 2025\u00a0SC79 is currently harmless despite its cloak-and-dagger nature. But it serves as a stark reminder that we might not see the next big one coming if it approaches from our blind spot. As Sheppard explained, asteroids can migrate inward from the main asteroid belt due to gravitational nudges (perturbations by planets), ending up in orbits like SC79\u2019s [36]<\/a>. \u201cUnderstanding how they arrived at these locations can help us protect our planet and also help us learn more about Solar System history,\u201d he said [37]<\/a>. In other words, by studying twilight asteroids, we not only safeguard Earth but also uncover clues about the chaotic journeys these space rocks have taken over eons.<\/p>\n

Not an Immediate Threat \u2013 But a Wake-Up Call<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to emphasize that 2025\u00a0SC79 poses no immediate danger to Earth. Orbit models show it never comes particularly close to our planet, at least not in the foreseeable future [38]<\/a>. Space.com reports that \u201c2025\u00a0SC79 will make no close approaches to Earth for the foreseeable future\u201d [39]<\/a>. The asteroid\u2019s path is well confined to the inner solar system: it loops around inside Venus\u2019s orbit, crossing that of Mercury, but staying tens of millions of miles from Earth\u2019s path [40]<\/a>. So there\u2019s no doomsday inbound \u2013 this discovery is a cause for vigilance, not panic.<\/p>\n

Astronomers are actually relieved in a sense: finding a large asteroid before it finds us is exactly the goal of planetary defense surveys. Scott Sheppard and colleagues spotted 2025\u00a0SC79 now \u2013 well before any hypothetical close pass \u2013 which means we can keep tabs on it. In fact, the asteroid has already slipped back out of view, moving behind the sun from Earth\u2019s perspective. It \u201cis now traveling behind the Sun and will be invisible to telescopes for several months,\u201d Carnegie Science noted in its press release [41]<\/a>. Only once it emerges from the sun\u2019s far side will astronomers get another chance to observe it and refine details like its exact orbit, rotation, and composition.<\/p>\n

When that opportunity comes, scientists are eager to learn more. One puzzle is how a 700\u00a0m rock survives so close to the sun. The intense solar heat can crack or destabilize smaller asteroids over time. Studying 2025\u00a0SC79\u2019s makeup could reveal if it\u2019s a particularly tough rubble pile or perhaps a dense metal-rich body that withstands the heat [42]<\/a>. Its origin story is another mystery \u2013 was it nudged inward from the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter? Or could it be debris from a long-ago collision in the inner solar system? Further observations \u201cwill reveal details about its composition \u2026 as well as its possible origin,\u201d Carnegie scientists said [43]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While 2025\u00a0SC79 itself doesn\u2019t threaten us, experts say its discovery is a sobering wake-up call. \u201cTo be fair, there isn\u2019t much we can do about the natural positioning of extraterrestrial objects,\u201d Gizmodo\u2019s report quipped, noting we can\u2019t change where asteroids like to hang out. Still, astronomers hope finding this one will spur better strategies to spot similar objects in the future [44]<\/a>. It\u2019s a reminder that Earth is surrounded by a swarm of space rocks, many of which we\u2019ve yet to catalog. In just the past few weeks, there have been multiple \u201cclose calls\u201d with smaller asteroids that were detected only days or hours ahead of buzzing Earth. For example, on Oct. 15 an asteroid called 2025\u00a0TP5 (about 16\u00a0m wide) zoomed just 60,000 miles from Earth \u2013 only one-quarter the distance to the Moon \u2013 after being discovered on Oct. 13, just two days prior [45]<\/a> [46]<\/a>. And earlier in October, tiny asteroids 2025\u00a0TF and 2025\u00a0TQ2 skimmed past Earth at astonishingly close distances (one came just 266 miles above Antarctica!) with little warning [47]<\/a>. Though those rocks were too small to cause serious harm, they illustrate how last-minute discoveries are becoming routine.<\/p>\n

The fact that 2025\u00a0SC79 didn\u2019t sneak up on us \u2013 despite hiding near the sun \u2013 is a success story for our current surveys. But it also underlines the urgent need to expand our search programs to cover the solar glare zone. As astronomer Alan Fitzsimmons once said about near-misses, \u201cThe first step in protecting Earth is knowing what\u2019s out there.\u201d With 2025\u00a0SC79, we now know about one more lurking giant. How many others remain undetected is an open question.<\/p>\n

Stepping Up the Search for Hidden Asteroids<\/p>\n

Recognizing the \u201ctwilight asteroid\u201d blind spot problem, space agencies are ramping up efforts to find these lurking rocks before they find us. One major initiative is NASA\u2019s Near-Earth Object Surveyor (NEO Surveyor) mission \u2013 a dedicated space-based infrared telescope designed to catch asteroids that elude ground-based telescopes. Set to station a telescope at the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrange point (between Earth and the Sun), NEO Surveyor will have a clear view of objects inside Earth\u2019s orbit without glare blocking its sight [48]<\/a>. Its infrared sensors will pick up the heat of asteroids against the cold of space, rather than relying on visible sunlight, so it can detect even dark, non-reflective asteroids that are practically invisible to optical telescopes [49]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After years of development, NEO Surveyor passed its critical design review in early 2025 and is on track for launch in September 2027 (no later than mid-2028 by current plans) [50]<\/a>. Once in operation, this mission is expected to find the vast majority of large near-Earth asteroids within a decade, including those in the inner solar system. By NASA\u2019s estimates, NEO Surveyor should discover two hundred thousand or more new asteroids, including most objects over 140\u00a0m that could pose serious threats [51]<\/a>. Essentially, it aims to fill the gap that allows asteroids like 2025\u00a0SC79 to go unnoticed. \u201cIt will play a central role in discovering asteroid threats hiding in sunlight,\u201d notes Modern Engineering Marvels, because a space infrared surveyor can \u201cdetect asteroids independently of their reflected sunlight.\u201d [52]<\/a><\/p>\n

Beyond detection, there\u2019s also the question of planetary defense \u2013 what if we do find an asteroid on a collision course? Fortunately, humanity has made progress here as well. In 2022, NASA\u2019s DART mission successfully smacked an asteroid (Dimorphos) off its course as a test, marking the first-ever intentional deflection of a celestial object. That dramatic experiment proved that given enough lead time, we can potentially nudge a threatening asteroid away from Earth. Now space agencies are planning follow-up missions (like Europe\u2019s Hera probe to examine DART\u2019s impact site) and studying other deflection techniques (such as gravity tractors or even nuclear options for larger asteroids). The key takeaway: finding asteroids early gives us a chance to prevent a cosmic disaster \u2013 but without early detection, even the best deflection technology is useless.<\/p>\n

Lawmakers are taking note too. The U.S. Congress has mandated NASA to identify 90% of near-Earth asteroids over 140\u00a0m in size (roughly city-destroyer size) as soon as possible [53]<\/a>. While that 2020 goal wasn\u2019t met, funding has since been boosted, and missions like NEO Surveyor are now funded under NASA\u2019s planetary defense program (after years of delays) [54]<\/a>. The discovery of 2025\u00a0SC79 provides a tangible example officials can point to when justifying these investments: here is a planetary-scale threat we didn\u2019t know about until now, lurking in a place we barely look. It bolsters the argument for why we need space-based eyes on the sky.<\/p>\n

As Richard Moissl, the European Space Agency\u2019s head of planetary defense, often points out, the question isn\u2019t if we will find all the large asteroids \u2013 it\u2019s when, and whether we\u2019ll find them in time. The combination of improved ground surveys and upcoming space telescopes means that \u201csooner or later, we\u2019ll catch virtually all of them,\u201d Moissl has said. The goal is to do it sooner, before any unwelcome surprise drops by.<\/p>\n

Space Stocks Soar on Asteroid Alert and Exploration Hype<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just scientists and governments responding to these developments \u2013 investors are paying close attention too. The burgeoning field of \u201cNewSpace\u201d (commercial space ventures) and planetary defense has become a hot topic on Wall Street and beyond. In fact, space exploration and defense is now big business, with billions of dollars flowing into space startups and companies in 2025. The discovery of a high-speed \u201cplanet-killer\u201d asteroid underscores the importance of this sector, and the markets have taken notice.<\/p>\n

Recent reports show that global investment in space startups hit a record high in the latest quarter. According to a Seraphim Space report, venture capital poured $3.5\u00a0billion into space companies in Q3 2025, nearly double the figure from a year prior [55]<\/a>. \u201cWhat we\u2019re seeing now is a far more diverse set of investable companies, signaling that space has evolved into a broader, more mature market,\u201d said Lucas Bishop, an associate at Seraphim Space, noting that funding is no longer concentrated in just Elon Musk\u2019s SpaceX or a few giants [56]<\/a>. Instead, money is spreading across niches like launch providers, satellite networks, and yes, asteroid detection and protection technologies. This surge \u201csolidifies space as a leading growth sector in technology alongside AI,\u201d Reuters reported, and momentum is expected to carry into 2026 [57]<\/a> [58]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Investors appear to recognize that planetary defense and space exploration aren\u2019t just science fiction \u2013 they\u2019re emerging industries. A clear example came in mid-October, when Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ:LUNR) \u2013 a company developing lunar landers and infrastructure \u2013 saw its stock jump 16% in a single day amid excitement over a successful Moon mission and NASA\u2019s Artemis program [59]<\/a>. Similarly, Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB), a small launch vehicle builder that also works on orbital debris removal and potentially asteroid missions, has seen its share price climb sharply this year; Rocket Lab\u2019s market value has more than doubled in 2025 as the company secures government and commercial contracts [60]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Even the old-guard aerospace companies are getting a boost. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) and Boeing (NYSE:BA) \u2013 both major NASA contractors \u2013 are frequently cited by analysts as beneficiaries of increased space and defense spending [61]<\/a>. Lockheed, for instance, builds planetary spacecraft (it\u2019s behind NASA\u2019s OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission and upcoming asteroid-hunter craft), while Boeing is a prime contractor for heavy rockets and space stations. As asteroid detection and mitigation efforts ramp up, these giants are positioning to win contracts and partnerships in the new space economy. Market watchers have flagged such space-related stocks as \u201cpromising\u201d picks, especially with high-profile asteroid missions and planetary defense tests making headlines [62]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The broader stock market is also reflecting the public\u2019s fascination and concern with space threats. Whenever there\u2019s an attention-grabbing asteroid story \u2013 like a close flyby or a discovery of something like 2025\u00a0SC79 \u2013 it often coincides with a bump in social media chatter about space stocks, or even short-term trading volume in those companies. While one asteroid discovery won\u2019t fundamentally change a company\u2019s earnings, it does raise awareness (and perhaps government urgency) about the field. That, in turn, can lead to increased funding for missions (benefiting contractors) and more capital for space startups via IPOs or SPAC deals.<\/p>\n

In 2025 alone, we\u2019ve seen multiple space startups go public or announce plans to, riding the wave of investor enthusiasm. The space economy\u2019s annual value is now estimated at $500+ billion, and growing at a healthy clip. Planetary defense \u2013 once a niche topic \u2013 is now part of the conversation. As Seraphim Space noted, investments are flowing not just for satellites and rockets, but into areas like \u201cdual-use\u201d space tech that serves civilian and military goals [63]<\/a>. Detecting or deflecting asteroids could certainly fall under that dual-use umbrella (protecting the planet is as fundamental as it gets).<\/p>\n

All of this means that the discovery of 2025\u00a0SC79 comes at a time of rapid progress and optimism in the space sector. The public is captivated by dramatic space stories, from NASA\u2019s successful asteroid deflection last year to the surprise of a skyscraper-sized asteroid hiding next to the sun this year. That interest translates into political will and financial backing. We are essentially entering a new era of Space Age vigilance, where spotting a hazardous asteroid garners not just scientific accolades but also investor applause.<\/p>\n

As we marvel at 2025\u00a0SC79 \u2013 a cosmic speed demon that eluded us until now \u2013 it\u2019s clear that our ability to find and face cosmic threats is better than ever, yet still has room to improve. Experts are adamant that we use this time wisely. \u201cThis finding\u2026 highlights the potential dangers of unseen asteroids,\u201d wrote Live Science of Sheppard\u2019s discovery [64]<\/a>. The consensus: we got lucky with this one being harmless. Next time, we might not be so lucky unless we broaden our gaze.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most dangerous asteroids are the most difficult to detect\u2026 If these \u2018twilight\u2019 asteroids approach Earth, they could pose serious impact hazards.\u201d \u2013 Dr. Scott Sheppard, Carnegie Science [65]<\/a><\/p>\n

Fortunately, humanity is waking up to the challenge \u2013 from advanced telescopes soon watching our backs (or rather, our sun-blinded front), to energetic entrepreneurs turning planetary protection into the next investment frontier. Asteroids may be sneaky, but we\u2019re getting smarter and richer in outsmarting them. The next time a \u201csneaky\u201d space rock comes wandering our way, we just might see it in time \u2013 and perhaps even have the tools to nudge it harmlessly aside. Until then, 2025\u00a0SC79 serves as a celestial reminder that even in daylight, we must keep our eyes on the skies.<\/p>\n

Sources: Carnegie Science [66]<\/a> [67]<\/a>; Gizmodo [68]<\/a> [69]<\/a>; Fox News [70]<\/a> [71]<\/a>; Space.com [72]<\/a> [73]<\/a>; Universe Today [74]<\/a> [75]<\/a>; Live Science [76]<\/a>; TechStartups\/Reuters [77]<\/a> [78]<\/a>; TS2\u00a0Tech [79]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201c3I\/ATLAS Just VANISHED From NASA\u2019s Radar Is More TERRIFYING Than \u2018Oumuamua\u2019 Ever Was\u201d | Michio Kaku<\/p>\n

References<\/p>\n

1. www.space.com<\/a>, 2. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 3. gizmodo.com<\/a>, 4. gizmodo.com<\/a>, 5. www.universetoday.com<\/a>, 6. www.universetoday.com<\/a>, 7. gizmodo.com<\/a>, 8. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 9. www.space.com<\/a>, 10. en.wikipedia.org<\/a>, 11. en.wikipedia.org<\/a>, 12. techstartups.com<\/a>, 13. techstartups.com<\/a>, 14. ts2.tech<\/a>, 15. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 16. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 17. www.space.com<\/a>, 18. www.livescience.com<\/a>, 19. www.universetoday.com<\/a>, 20. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 21. www.space.com<\/a>, 22. www.universetoday.com<\/a>, 23. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 24. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 25. www.space.com<\/a>, 26. gizmodo.com<\/a>, 27. gizmodo.com<\/a>, 28. gizmodo.com<\/a>, 29. gizmodo.com<\/a>, 30. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 31. www.space.com<\/a>, 32. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 33. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 34. en.wikipedia.org<\/a>, 35. www.universetoday.com<\/a>, 36. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 37. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 38. www.space.com<\/a>, 39. www.space.com<\/a>, 40. www.foxnews.com<\/a>, 41. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 42. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 43. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 44. gizmodo.com<\/a>, 45. ts2.tech<\/a>, 46. ts2.tech<\/a>, 47. ts2.tech<\/a>, 48. en.wikipedia.org<\/a>, 49. en.wikipedia.org<\/a>, 50. en.wikipedia.org<\/a>, 51. en.wikipedia.org<\/a>, 52. modernengineeringmarvels.com<\/a>, 53. en.wikipedia.org<\/a>, 54. en.wikipedia.org<\/a>, 55. techstartups.com<\/a>, 56. techstartups.com<\/a>, 57. techstartups.com<\/a>, 58. techstartups.com<\/a>, 59. ts2.tech<\/a>, 60. techstartups.com<\/a>, 61. ts2.tech<\/a>, 62. ts2.tech<\/a>, 63. techstartups.com<\/a>, 64. www.livescience.com<\/a>, 65. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 66. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 67. carnegiescience.edu<\/a>, 68. gizmodo.com<\/a>, 69. gizmodo.com<\/a>, 70. www.foxnews.com<\/a>, 71. www.foxnews.com<\/a>, 72. www.space.com<\/a>, 73. www.space.com<\/a>, 74. www.universetoday.com<\/a>, 75. www.universetoday.com<\/a>, 76. www.livescience.com<\/a>, 77. techstartups.com<\/a>, 78. techstartups.com<\/a>, 79. ts2.tech<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cTwilight\u201d discovery: Astronomers have spotted a 700-meter-wide asteroid lurking in the sun\u2019s glare, designated 2025 SC79, which orbits…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":106119,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[12979,908,61,60,10476,82,250,247,1337],"class_list":{"0":"post-106118","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-space","8":"tag-asteroids","9":"tag-astronomy","10":"tag-ie","11":"tag-ireland","12":"tag-planetary-defense","13":"tag-science","14":"tag-science-news","15":"tag-space","16":"tag-space-exploration"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106118"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106118\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/106119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=106118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=106118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}