Spinning Asteroid Pair (IMAGE)

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Spinning Asteroid Pair

Caption

Frames from a movie showing a radar-derived computer model of near-Earth binary asteroid (66391) 1999 KW4. The larger component is about 1.5 kilometers in diameter and rotates once every 2.8 hours, and the components' orbital period is 17.4 hours. This image relates to an article that appeared in the October 13, 2006, issue of the journal Science, published by AAAS. The study, by Dr. Steven Ostro of Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena and colleagues, was titled "Radar Imaging of Near-Earth Binary Asteroid (66391) 1999 KW4."

Credit

Image provided by NASA/JPL image courtesy Dan Scheeres (U. of Michigan) and Steve Ostro (JPL), via <i>Science</i>-AAAS.

Usage Restrictions

Please cite the owner of the image when publishing. This image may be freely used by reporters as part of news coverage, with proper attribution. Non-reporters must contact <i>Science</I> for permission.

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.