Press Releases 2007

ESO PR Photo 11a/07

Asteroid 2000 PH5

[Preview - JPEG: 1037 x 400 pix - 544k]
[Normal - JPEG: 2092 x 807 pix - 1.3M]
[Full Res - JPEG: 4181 x 1548 pix - 3.5M]
[Full Res - TIFF: 4181 x 1548 pix - 18.6M]

Asteroid 2000 PH5 imaged with ESO's 3.5m New Technology Telescope in Chile on August 27, 2003, over a time span of 77 minutes. The asteroid can be seen moving relative to the background stars.

ESO PR Photo 11b/07

Radar Images of 2000 PH5

[Preview - JPEG: 400 x 781 pix - 264k]
[Normal - JPEG: 800 x 1561 pix - 584k]
[Full Res - JPEG: 1110 x 2166 pix - 931k]
[Full Res - TIFF: 1110 x 2166 pix - 7M]

Radar images obtained at the Arecibo facility in Puerto Rico on July 28, 2004, covering one full rotation of asteroid 2000 PH5 (columns 1 and 4). Corresponding shape-model fits to the images are shown in columns 2 and 5. Columns 3 and 6 are detailed 3-D renderings of the shape model itself.

ESO PR Photo 11c/07

Change in the Rotation of 2000 PH5

[Preview - JPEG: 509 x 400 pix - 136k]
[Normal - JPEG: 1018 x 800 pix - 248k]
[Full Res - JPEG: 1555 x 1222 pix - 408k]
[Full Res - TIFF: 1555 x 1222 pix - 5.5M]

Relative change in the rotation period as a function of time. The observed relative variation in the rotation period is seen to change from year to year (black dots). The solid curve is the expected theoretical YORP strength derived from the 3-D shape model.

ESO PR Video 11/07

Watch the Asteroid Move!

[Quicktime - MOV: 720 x 576 pix - 6.8M]

This movie shows the asteroid moving against the background stars and galaxies over a period of 2 hours in September 2004, as seen with the ESO 8.2-m VLT array in Chile. Rapid brightness modulations can be seen as the asteroid rotates: The movie clearly illustrates how the object is streaking across the sky, but if you look closely you can actually see the asteroid's brightness modulating periodically. It's unusual to see this directly on such a movie but the stable conditions at the VLT and the power of the telescope allowed this modulation to show up quite well (Credit: A. Fitzsimmons).