Post by MCDemuth on Sept 23, 2017 0:37:23 GMT
Hubble Space Telescope just spotted a mysterious new object whizzing through the solar system
15:24, 21 SEP 2017
Nestled in the region of space between Mars and Jupiter is something that astronomers have never seen before
A group of German astronomers have discovered a case of two asteroids orbiting each other - the first time this has been witnessed in the solar system.
What's more, the two asteroids appear to be moving through space and producing a comet-like tail of debris. This is the first ever case of a binary asteroid that's also classified as a comet.
A group of German astronomers have discovered a case of two asteroids orbiting each other - the first time this has been witnessed in the solar system.
What's more, the two asteroids appear to be moving through space and producing a comet-like tail of debris. This is the first ever case of a binary asteroid that's also classified as a comet.
According to a report published in the journal Nature, the pair of asteroids (known as 288P) are believed to be about 100km (62 miles) apart and have probably existed as a binary system for the last 5,000 years.
Because it's so rare to find a binary asteroid that's also a comet - it raises the question of whether this is a fluke or if there are more of them out there.
An artist's impression of the 288P binary asteroid
www.mirror.co.uk/science/hubble-space-telescope-just-spotted-11213679
Very Cool...
Every day, there are still possible new amazing things to learn about!
