Collision In Space
January 16th 2011 10:54
Category: Cosmic Objects
Object P/2010 A2 debris field
January last year a collision occurred some 90 million miles from Earth.
Although it is not uncommon for collisions to occur in space, fortunately this one was captured shortly after the collision.
The anomaly was picked up by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) sky survey. The unusual finding prompted the use of the Hubble telescope.
The Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) project is responsible for monitoring Near Earth Object (NEO) Currently, LINEAR telescopes observe designated portions of the sky 5 times in one evening.
NASA is on target to catalogue at least 90 per cent of the estimated 1,000 objects that are larger than a Kilometer across that may pose a danger to Earth.
Hubble took a series of images that showed a debris field. The objects that struck each other were estimated to have a terminal speed of approximately five kilometers a second. The resulting collision looks like a comet like object.
The most probable suspects were two asteroids involved in a head on collision. P/2010 A2 is related to the group of asteroids, known at the Flora family of asteroids.
The object, known as P/2010 A2, was in orbit 90 million miles from Earth in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is estimated that the objects that struck each other were of a magnitude responsible for wiping out the dinosaurs around 65 million years ago.
Researching asteroid collisions will help us divert or destroy future asteroids heading for Earth. 90 percent is admirable it the other 10 percent that you have to worry about.
NASA images
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Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
Camera Sense
Hi S.L.
The collision was most likely caused by two asteroids. The debris is to small to affect us in any way.
The debris is confined to the asteroid belt.
Comment by Gabe Lock
LopsidedSports
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
Camera Sense