Eros Encounter Nears
Explanation:
After an
unanticipated extra
trip around the Sun,
the NEAR spacecraft is now
politely approaching asteroid
433,
Eros,
at a respectful relative speed of about 20 miles per hour.
Still nearly 2,000 miles distant,
NEAR will close to within
approximately 200 miles by February 14th - Valentine's Day.
If all goes well, the spacecraft will then be
captured by the gentle attraction
of Eros' gravity, becoming the first artificial
moon of an asteroid.
While
Eros is not round it is certainly
not heart-shaped
either as seen in
this series of frames showing
the roughly 20 x 8 x 8 mile asteroid
during its 5.27 hour rotation period.
Different perspectives clearly show a gouge
or saddle and a large impact crater with a raised rim
near the asteroid's narrow waist.
The frames were recorded by the NEAR
spacecraft's
multi-spectral imager
on February 4th from a range of 4,600 miles.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
