SMRTR Science & EngineeringJan 8, 2026Live Science

Vera C. Rubin Observatory discovers enormous, record-breaking asteroid in first 7 nights of observations

SMRTR summary

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory discovered a record-breaking asteroid called 2025 MN45 during its first week of observations, spinning faster than any known asteroid of its size. The 2,300-foot-wide space rock completes a full rotation in just 113 seconds, indicating it must be made of solid rock rather than loose debris like most asteroids. This discovery challenges scientists' understanding of asteroid composition and provides new insights into how our solar system formed.

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