The VLT images the very faint near-Earth object 2009 FD

The faint spot at the centre of this picture from ESO's Very Large Telescope is the Near-Earth Object 2009 FD. It may look insignificant, but there was a possibility that this asteroid would collide with the Earth in the future and cause devastation. Fortunately the latest VLT observations, part of a collaboration with the European Space Agency, have shown that this is much less likely than initially feared.

The stars in this picture appear trailed as the telescope was tracking the motion of the asteroid during the exposures.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:ann14004a
Type:Observation
Release date:21 January 2014, 12:00
Related announcements:ann14004
Size:1000 x 754 px

About the Object

Name:2009 FD
Type:Solar System : Interplanetary Body : Asteroid
Category:Solar System

Image Formats

Large JPEG
690.7 KB
Screensize JPEG
574.7 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

1024x768
695.8 KB
1280x1024
956.9 KB
1600x1200
1.2 MB
1920x1200
1.2 MB
2048x1536
1.5 MB

Colours & filters

BandTelescope
OpticalVery Large Telescope
FORS1