Asterank

What Asterank actually is

Asterank holds data on more than half a million asteroids and ranks them by estimated composition, mining value and the fuel a mission would need to get there. A 3D viewer shows the orbits in motion, and filters let you ask for the most accessible or the most profitable rocks.

Why it is worth your time

Sorting by cost-effectiveness returns a shortlist of unremarkable grey lumps carrying billion-dollar valuations, which is a very strange way to read the solar system.

Common questions

Is Asterank free?

Yes. Asterank is free and does not ask you to register or hand over an email address before you can use it.

How long does Asterank take?

Five to fifteen minutes of proper attention. We file it under "Coffee break" — which asteroids would pay for the trip out to reach them.

Does Asterank work on a phone?

Asterank really wants a mouse and a wide window. It will load on a phone, but the experience is built for desktop.

What kind of site is Asterank?

We list it under Cosmos & Scale — zoom out until you feel small. Sorting by cost-effectiveness returns a shortlist of unremarkable grey lumps carrying billion-dollar valuations, which is a very strange way to read the solar system.