Hubble observes aftermath of possible asteroid collision
Posted: Thu, Oct 14, 2010, 8:27 AM ET (1227 GMT)
An object initially thought to be a comet is instead likely the debris left by the collision of two asteroids. Hubble observations of the object, P/2010 A2, reveal a never-before-seen X pattern that astronomers believe resulted when an asteroid as small as 3 meters across struck the larger asteroid, about 120 meters across, vaporizing the smaller object and a cloud of debris swept into a tail by solar radiation. Astronomers believe that the impact actually took place in early 2009, but because of the objects' position in orbit relative to Earth it was not seen until early this year. Separate observations by ESA's Rosetta spacecraft, which observed P/2010 A2 on its way to a flyby of another asteroid earlier this year, support the impact hypothesis.
An object initially thought to be a comet is instead likely the debris left by the collision of two asteroids. Hubble observations of the object, P/2010 A2, reveal a never-before-seen X pattern that astronomers believe resulted when an asteroid as small as 3 meters across struck the larger asteroid, about 120 meters across, vaporizing the smaller object and a cloud of debris swept into a tail by solar radiation. Astronomers believe that the impact actually took place in early 2009, but because of the objects' position in orbit relative to Earth it was not seen until early this year. Separate observations by ESA's Rosetta spacecraft, which observed P/2010 A2 on its way to a flyby of another asteroid earlier this year, support the impact hypothesis.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Report outlines cost growth in canceled NASA exploration programs
Posted: Sat, Jun 27 11:14 AM ET (1514 GMT) Perseverance Mars rover finds more potential biosignatures
Posted: Sat, Jun 27 11:12 AM ET (1512 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, July 4
South Korea sets 2035 target for homegrown Starlink-style network
The Korea Economic Daily — 9:46 am ET (1346 GMT) IAFI to host 3rd India Space Policy Conference 2026 on Defining India’s place in the global space economy
Communications Today — 9:42 am ET (1342 GMT) Victoria-designed satellite heading to orbit aboard SpaceX rocket from California
CTV — 9:42 am ET (1342 GMT) First known congressional SpaceX stock buys surface after record IPO
CNBC — 9:41 am ET (1341 GMT) When Shubhanshu Shukla 'vanished' into spacesuit bag mid zero-gravity nap
The Federal (India) — 9:38 am ET (1338 GMT) |
