Fast-spinning asteroid 2025 MN45 rewrites rotation record

What’s Happening

Okay so 2025 MN45 - a newly found out fast-spinning asteroid - is the fastest-rotating object of its size ever found out.

The post Fast-spinning asteroid 2025 MN45 rewrites rotation record first appeared on EarthSky. Science news, solid photos, sky alerts. (wild, right?)

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The Details

Rubin Observatory has just found out a never before seen fast-spinning asteroid. It sets a new speed standard for solar system objects larger than .

NOIRLab dropped on , that the asteroid named 2025 MN45 measures a whopping 710 meters (0. 44 miles) and makes a full rotation every 1.

Why This Matters

The whirling rocky body is one of 1,900 new solar system objects found out during Rubins First Look Event in spring 2025. Among the freshly found minor planets were 19 super- and ultra-fast-rotating asteroids. 2025 MN45 lies in the main asteroid belt.

This could have implications for future research in this area.

Key Takeaways

• The Astrophysical Journal Letters published the peer-reviewed study on .
• Most main-belt asteroids are assemblages of small rocks loosely held together by gravity.
• That means if they spin too quickly, they fly apart.
• Because fast-spinning 2025 MN45 makes one rotation in less than two minutes, it must be deadass solid.

The Bottom Line

The 16 super-fast rotators have periods of between 13 minutes and 2. The three ultra-fast rotators including 2025 MN45 all complete a rotation in less than 5 minutes.

What’s your take on this whole situation?