X-Shaped Space Thing Is Smashed-Up Asteroid

[n2doc]

By Dave Mosher October 13, 2010

Astronomers are now almost certain an x-shaped object discovered in the asteroid belt earlier this year is the first documented asteroid-to-asteroid collision.

There’s a small chance a space rock may have instead spun itself into pieces, but two independent teams of scientists think it’s a matter of time before that explanation is snuffed out. Whatever happened to create the trail, it’s a big clue to what’s littering the solar system with fine particles.

“This is the first time we’ve seen anything like this,” said David Jewitt, an astronomer at the University of California Los Angeles and author of one of two studies of the object, P/2010 A2, published Oct. 13 in the journal Nature. “It’s a door-opener to the study of disintegrating asteroids.”

Jewitt, who used new Hubble Space Telescope images to chart P/2010 A2’s progress from January through May, said asteroid belt objects die either by colliding with themselves or by rotating so quickly they fly apart.



Read More http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/10/hubble-asteroid-collision/?intcid=postnav

[SpiralHawk]

1. The Truth is Out There

[MineralMan]

2. The Truth Is Out There...Somewhere...

But the gubmint is hiding it, you know. Why won't they tell us? :rofl:

[Salviati]

3. i want to believe...

But until I see the smoking gun, I'm afraid that I can trust no one.

[Iggo]

4. Uh-oh.

And you know what that means. We're fooked.