Waspie_Dwarf Posted May 30, 2013 #1 Share Posted May 30, 2013 NASA Radar Reveals Asteroid Has Its Own Moon PASADENA, Calif. -- A sequence of radar images of asteroid 1998 QE2 was obtained on the evening of May 29, 2013, by NASA scientists using the 230-foot (70-meter) Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, Calif., when the asteroid was about 3.75 million miles (6 million kilometers) from Earth, which is 15.6 lunar distances.The radar imagery revealed that 1998 QE2 is a binary asteroid. In the near-Earth population, about 16 percent of asteroids that are about 655 feet (200 meters) or larger are binary or triple systems. Radar images suggest that the main body, or primary, is approximately 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) in diameter and has a rotation period of less than four hours. Also revealed in the radar imagery of 1998 QE2 are several dark surface features that suggest large concavities. The preliminary estimate for the size of the asteroid's satellite, or moon, is approximately 2,000 feet (600 meters) wide. The radar collage covers a little bit more than two hours Read more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bison Posted May 30, 2013 #2 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Interesting that the satellite appears to be much more reflective of the radar signal than its primary. It appears very bright in the radar image, whereas the primary is quite dark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EzekieltheGreat Posted May 30, 2013 #3 Share Posted May 30, 2013 ray this is cool 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waspie_Dwarf Posted May 30, 2013 Author #4 Share Posted May 30, 2013 (edited) Asteroid 1998 QE2When Asteroid 1998 QE2 makes its closest approach to Earth on May 31, 2013, it promises to be a bonanza for radar science.Credit: NASA Source: NASA - Multimedia Edited May 30, 2013 by Waspie_Dwarf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taun Posted May 30, 2013 #5 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Ah look... It brought a little friend on it's journey... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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