Hubble observes asteroid breaking apart
Posted: Fri, Mar 7, 2014, 7:12 AM ET (1212 GMT)
Images from the Hubble Space Telescope reveal an asteroid breaking apart into as many as ten pieces, perhaps due to the subtle influence of the Sun. Hubble images of P/2013 R3, taken between October and January, show the object breaking up into several smaller pieces, the largest of which are up to 400 meters in diameter. The asteroid, discovered in September, was initially categorized as a comet given its fuzzy appearance in telescopes. Astronomers now believe the object is an asteroid that has fractures and is surrounded by a coma of dust from that breakup. Astronomers don't believe a collision caused the breakup, and have ruled out heating of ices in the interior as an alternative cause. Instead, astronomers think the most likely cause is that sunlight gradually sped up the rotation rate of the asteroid to the point where centrifugal forces caused the object to fly apart.
Images from the Hubble Space Telescope reveal an asteroid breaking apart into as many as ten pieces, perhaps due to the subtle influence of the Sun. Hubble images of P/2013 R3, taken between October and January, show the object breaking up into several smaller pieces, the largest of which are up to 400 meters in diameter. The asteroid, discovered in September, was initially categorized as a comet given its fuzzy appearance in telescopes. Astronomers now believe the object is an asteroid that has fractures and is surrounded by a coma of dust from that breakup. Astronomers don't believe a collision caused the breakup, and have ruled out heating of ices in the interior as an alternative cause. Instead, astronomers think the most likely cause is that sunlight gradually sped up the rotation rate of the asteroid to the point where centrifugal forces caused the object to fly apart.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Space Force picks 14 companies for GEO surveillance program
Posted: Sat, Apr 11 10:34 AM ET (1434 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, April 16
USSPACECOM JISE Transitions to Redstone Arsenal
US Space Command — 6:51 am ET (1051 GMT) US Space Command begins relocation to Huntsville, marking operational start at Redstone Arsenal
WZDX-TV Huntsville, AL — 6:50 am ET (1050 GMT) First U.S. Space Command personnel arrive at Redstone Arsenal
WAFF-TV — 6:50 am ET (1050 GMT) Vandenberg Space Force Base Advances Lease Talks With Blue Origin for SLC-14
Santa Barbara (CA) Edhat — 6:50 am ET (1050 GMT) USSPACECOM commander lauds team behind the command’s success during 41st Space Symposium keynote
US Space Command — 6:49 am ET (1049 GMT) |
