Young asteroids look old

Artist’s impression of how the solar wind makes young asteroids look old. After undergoing a catastrophic collision, the colour of an asteroid gets modified rapidly by the solar wind so that it resembles the mean colour of extremely old asteroids. After the first million years, the surface “tans” much more slowly. At that stage, the colour depends more on composition than on age.

Crédit:

ESO/M. Martins

À propos de l'image

Identification:eso0916a
Type:Dessin
Date de publication:22 avril 2009
Communiqués de presse en rapport:eso0916
Taille:3447 x 1772 px

À propos de l'objet

Nom:Asteroid
Type:Solar System : Interplanetary Body : Asteroid
Catégorie:Illustrations
Solar System

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