Spitzer Telescope spots mix of asteroids near Earth
September 5th, 2010 - 11:47 am ICT by ANIWashington, Sept 5 (ANI): NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed a colourful mixed bunch of asteroids, with a surprisingly wide array of compositions, much like an assorted box of candies.
Some are dark and dull; others are shiny and bright. The findings are helping astronomers better understand near-Earth objects as a whole-a population whose physical properties are not well known.
“These rocks are teaching us about the places they come from,” said David Trilling at Northern Arizona University.
Spitzer is helping to gather more accurate estimates of asteroids’ compositions and sizes than what is possible with visible-light alone.
“Our data will tell us more about the population, and how it changes from one object to the next. This information could be used to help plan possible future space missions to study a near-Earth object,” Trilling said.
Since asteroid surfaces become darker with time due to exposure to solar radiation, the presence of lighter, shinier surfaces for some asteroids may indicate that they are relatively young.
A greater degree of diversity indicates that some may have come from the main belt between Mars and Jupiter, and others could come from farther out in the solar system.
Future research may reveal new clues about how the cosmic objects might have dotted our young planet with water and organics-ingredients needed to jump-start life.
The research appears in the September issue of Astronomical Journal. (ANI)
- NASA'S NEOWISE finds previously unknown 20 comets, 33,000 asteroids - Feb 02, 2011
- NASA finds fewer asteroids near earth - Sep 30, 2011
- Amateur astronomers observe asteroids as they impact Jupiter - Sep 10, 2010
- Space probe reaches asteroid after four-year journey - Jul 18, 2011
- Asteroid may yield clues about Earth's formation - Oct 31, 2011
- NASA launches Jupiter probe - Aug 05, 2011
- Dark and dangerous asteroids spotted lurking unseen near Earth's orbit - Mar 06, 2010
- Huge asteroid to fly close to earth on November 8th, 2011 - Apr 09, 2011
- Huge asteroid to fly close to earth on November - May 03, 2011
- Newly discovered asteroid could be Earth's companion - Apr 07, 2011
- NASA's 'WISE' eyes spot near-Earth asteroid - Jan 26, 2010
- Russia, Europe plan joint mission to Jupiter - Dec 21, 2011
- NASA's WISE mission discovers 'horseshoe' asteroid - Apr 09, 2011
- House-size asteroid passes close by Earth - Mar 18, 2011
- First images of aftermath of possible asteroid collision captured - Oct 14, 2010
Tags: accurate estimates, asteroids, astronomical journal, candies, compositions, cosmic objects, earth objects, future research, future space, nasa, near earth object, northern arizona university, organics, september issue, solar radiation, solar system, space missions, spitzer space telescope, visible light, young planet