The Yarkovsky Effect Moves Asteroids

Sunlight pushes asteroids subtly.

The Yarkovsky effect causes small asteroids to drift over time due to uneven heating and re-emission of thermal radiation.

Why This Matters

It changes orbital paths over millions of years.

Accounting for this is crucial for predicting asteroid impacts.

Did You Know?

A pebble-sized asteroid can shift kilometers over decades due to sunlight.

Source

[ESA, esa.int]

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