This Asteroid May Be Three Worlds Fused Together

Bedtime Astronomy

Astronomers may have discovered a rare contact trinary in the asteroid belt: asteroid 44 Nysa appears to be three distinct bodies fused together.

High-resolution observations reveal a striking three-lobed shape, while a tiny moon orbiting Nysa is helping scientists measure its mass and density. The findings could reveal whether Nysa is solid rock or a rubble pile—and how the earliest planetary bodies formed.

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Astronomers may have discovered a rare contact trinary in the asteroid belt: asteroid 44 Nysa appears to be three distinct bodies fused together.

High-resolution observations reveal a striking three-lobed shape, while a tiny moon orbiting Nysa is helping scientists measure its mass and density. The findings could reveal whether Nysa is solid rock or a rubble pile—and how the earliest planetary bodies formed.

Thank you for listening to Bedtime Astronomy — your guide to the cosmos. New episodes on space exploration, NASA missions & the latest astronomy breakthroughs.

This episode includes AI-generated content.
2026-08-27 31 min Transcript
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