Asteroid 2025 MN45 Sets Rotation Record, Reveals New Insights into Asteroid Structure
Scientists studying the first scientific images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory have made a striking discovery—an asteroid spinning faster than any other known object of comparable size. Named Asteroid 2025 MN45 , the object is offering astronomers fresh clues about asteroid structure, strength, and the early history of the solar system, while showcasing the transformative potential of next-generation sky surveys.
A Record-Breaking Asteroid
Asteroid 2025 MN45 is estimated to be about 2,300 feet (around 710 metres) in diameter , making it larger than many of the world’s tallest skyscrapers. What truly sets it apart, however, is its astonishing speed of rotation. The asteroid completes one full spin in just 113 seconds , establishing it as the fastest-spinning asteroid ever recorded in its size class (greater than 500 metres).
Such an extreme rotation rate defies long-standing assumptions about how fast large asteroids can spin without tearing themselves apart.
Discovery Powered by the Rubin Observatory
The asteroid was detected using early survey data from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory , which is equipped with the LSST Camera , the largest digital camera ever built for astronomy. The discovery forms part of a broader effort to map and understand small bodies across the solar system.
The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters , marking the first peer-reviewed scientific paper based on Rubin Observatory data—a milestone for the observatory even before its main survey officially begins.
What the Spin Reveals About Asteroid Structure
Most large asteroids are believed to be “rubble piles” —collections of loosely bound rocks and debris held together mainly by gravity. These bodies typically cannot rotate faster than once every 2.2 hours without breaking apart.
The fact that 2025 MN45 spins once every 113 seconds strongly suggests it is not a rubble pile. Instead, researchers believe it must have significant internal strength , more akin to a solid rock. This challenges conventional models of asteroid formation and indicates that some large asteroids may have survived violent early solar system conditions in a more intact form.
The asteroid resides in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter , a region where such ultra-fast rotators are extremely rare.
Why This Discovery Matters
Understanding asteroid composition is crucial not only for planetary science but also for planetary defence and future space missions. Objects with solid internal structures behave very differently from rubble piles during collisions or potential deflection efforts.
The discovery of 2025 MN45 suggests that scientists may need to rethink how common strong, monolithic asteroids are—and what that means for the evolution of the solar system.
A Glimpse of What’s to Come
Even in its commissioning phase, the Rubin Observatory has already identified around 1,900 previously unknown asteroids , including several super-fast and ultra-fast rotators . Once the observatory begins its full 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) , astronomers expect an explosion of discoveries.
Month: Current Affairs - January 10, 2026
Category: Scientific breakthrough