An alternate explanation that fits the evidence is that Vesta was once part of a planet – but which planet that might been remains a mystery.

Vesta won't reach opposition with Earth again until Oct. 13, 2026. On Friday, May 2 the asteroid Vesta will reach opposition, marking the ideal period to spot the second largest asteroid orbiting ...

The new photos of Vesta from NASA's Dawn spacecraft highlight odd, shiny spots that are nearly twice as bright as other parts of the asteroid — suggesting it is original material left over from ...

An unmanned NASA probe made history 117 million miles from Earth on Saturday (July 16) when it arrived at the huge asteroid Vesta, making it the first spacecraft ever to orbit an object in the ...

The large asteroid Vesta is a true relic of our Solar System's early history. Thanks to the recent detailed study by the Dawn spacecraft, we know it's an intact protoplanet, the type of object ...

The giant asteroid Vesta may contain a vast supply of water ice, a supply that has sat frozen for billions of years, a new study reveals. The surface of Vesta — the second-largest object in the ...

It’s a 3D printing of the asteroid Vesta — a piece which is the Field Museum’s newly classified meteorite, or a fallen space rock. Vesta is the brightest and the second largest in the ...

On Friday, May 2 the asteroid Vesta will reach opposition, marking the ideal period to spot the second largest asteroid orbiting in the rocky belt of debris located between Mars and Jupiter.

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. An image of Vesta captured as NASA's Dawn spacecraft retreated from the asteroid in 2012.