Vested Interest
May 16th 2011 00:35
Category: Jupiter
Asteroids can range in size form a few meters to several thousand meters. Observing these objects form Earth is limited because of the vast distances involved, also these object remain dim as they only reflect tiny amounts of light from there respective surfaces.
At best asteroids show up as tiny points of light when seen through a telescope.
of Vesta, the second-largest object in the asteroid belt is just a point of light.
Over the years we have managed to get detailed images of asteroids . The image of Lutetia taken by ESA’s Rosetta mission in 2010. The close fly by of the asteroid shows a weathered scarred battered surface.
Rosetta probe image of asteroid Lutetia
Lutetia with Saturn
In some respects resembles a ‘C-type’ asteroid, a primitive body left over from the birth of the Solar System. In others, it looks like an ‘M-type’. ‘M-type’ astroids have been associated with iron meteorites, usually appear reddish and thought to be fragments of the cores from much larger objects.
July this year is when NASA’s Dawn spacecraft will encounter the asteroid Vesta. Vest is one of the largest asteroids orbiting the Solar System.
Launched on Sept. 27, 2007, Dawn has been making its way through space powered by a ion-fueled propulsion system. Dawn’s first image of Vesta, the second-largest object in the asteroid belt is just a point of light.
Currently Vesta is still about 975,000 kilometres away. Vesta is an irregular, 329-mile-wide object . When Dawn approaches Vesta in July 2011 the encounter should provide some interesting images of this ancient body of rock and metal. Dawn will say in orbit around Vesta for one year before continuing on to asteroid Ceres in 2015.
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Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
Camera Sense
Hi S.L.
The asteroid pictured in close up is asteroid Lutetia imaged last year by the Rosetta probe last year.
When the Dawn probe reaches Vesta in the next two months we will have a better picture of what the actual make up of the asteroid will be like.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
Camera Sense
Thats what happens when your rounding up baby goats.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief