Co-orbital asteroids near Venus may threaten Earth

In a recent study, scientists have identified a swarm of unstable asteroids orbiting near Venus, originating from the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. These asteroids, known as co-orbital, have been mostly obscured from view due to the Sun's glare, leading to a limited discovery of the total number currently surrounding Venus. By utilizing computer simulations, researchers assessed their potential trajectories over a span of 36,000 years, revealing that some trajectories could potentially result in a collision course with Earth in the future. Currently, approximately 20 such asteroids have been detected, with the majority measuring over 140 meters in diameter, qualifying them as urban-scale threats. Most of these asteroids have very elongated orbits, suggesting a significant observational bias that has hindered the detection of many smaller, lower-eccentricity bodies that could also share similar paths. This bias raises concerns about how many more of these hidden asteroids exist and whether they might shift their orbits in ways that increase their likelihood of collision with Earth. The research emphasizes that while there isn’t an immediate danger from these asteroids, they could pose a longer-term threat if they begin to approach Earth more closely. Predictions indicate that if any of these asteroids were to adjust their trajectories relative to Venus, some could end up on collision paths with our planet. The study also points to an urgent need for more observational capabilities and monitoring systems to accurately assess the risk posed by these potential celestial hazards. Scientists believe that upcoming observatories, like the Rubin Observatory, have the potential to significantly improve the detection rates of these asteroids during favorable observational conditions. Future space missions designed to track Venus’ orbit could also provide crucial data in uncovering the true number of co-orbital asteroids at lower eccentricities while evaluating their risk to Earth. Increased awareness and preparedness could mitigate the risks that these asteroids potentially carry.