Schematic view of asteroid (25143) Itokawa

A schematic view of the strange peanut-shaped asteroid Itokawa.

By making exquisitely precise timing measurements using ESO’s New Technology Telescope, and combining them with a model of the asteroid's surface topography, a team of astronomers has found that different parts of this asteroid have different densities. As well as revealing secrets about the asteroid’s formation, finding out what lies below the surface of asteroids may also shed light on what happens when bodies collide in the Solar System, and provide clues about how planets form. The shape model used for this view is based on the images collected by JAXA's Hayabusa spacecraft.

Credit:

ESO. Acknowledgement: JAXA

About the Image

Id:eso1405a
Type:Artwork
Release date:5 February 2014, 12:00
Related releases:eso1405
Size:4390 x 2743 px

About the Object

Name:(25143) Itokawa
Type:Solar System : Sky Phenomenon : Night Sky : Asterism
Category:Solar System

Image Formats

Large JPEG
2.6 MB
Screensize JPEG
184.6 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

1024x768
276.5 KB
1280x1024
451.3 KB
1600x1200
634.4 KB
1920x1200
736.7 KB
2048x1536
976.3 KB