In the October 2025 newsletter, we reported the discovery of 19 ultra- to super-fast rotating asteroids identified among the first roughly 2,000 asteroids discovered with the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, including the fastest spinning large asteroid found to date, 2025 MN45.

The findings were published in a paper in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on 7 January 2026, led by UW Astronomy Affiliate Assistant Professor Sarah Greenstreet, UW Astronomy graduate student Chester Li, UW Astronomy postdoctoral scholar Dmitrii Vavilov, UW Astronomy undergraduate student Devanshi Singh, and their colleagues. Coincident with the paper publication was a Rubin Observatory press release and a press conference held at the 247th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in Phoenix, Arizona.

The findings were also featured in a UW News press release, UW’s student-run The Daily, and the Spring 2026 issue of the UW Magazine. Shortly after the paper publication and press conference, the story was picked up by local, national, and international media outlets, including NBC Bay Area News, Geekwire, BBC Newsround, Gizmodo, Space.com, Popular Science, Scientific American, Science News, Discover Magazine, Universe Today, BBC Sky at Night Magazine, Nature Astronomy, KNKX Public Radio, NPR’s All Things Considered, and more.