Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Rosetta Approaches Asteroid Lutetia

NASA ^ | April 24, 2012 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: What would it look like to approach an asteroid in a spaceship? In 2010, ESA's robotic Rosetta spacecraft zipped past the asteroid 21 Lutetia taking data and snapping images in an effort to better determine the history of the asteroid and the origin of its unusual colors. Recently, many images from a camera always facing the asteroid were compiled into the above video. Although of unknown composition, Lutetia is not massive enough for gravity to pull it into a sphere. The 100-kilometer across Lutetian was at that time the largest asteroid or comet nucleus that had been visited by a human-launched spacecraft. Orbiting in the main asteroid belt, Lutetia shows itself to be a heavily cratered remnant of the early Solar System. Now well past Lutetia, the Rosetta spacecraft is continuing onto comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko where a landing is planned for 2014.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit: ESA /MPS / UPD / LAM / IAA / RSSD / INTA / UPM / DASP / IDA;
Video Compilation: Daniel Machacek / YouTube: planetaryprobes]

[null and void]

Is that the Rosetta stone?

[SoldierDad]

So, that’s what I’m paying for to learn a new language??

[SunkenCiv]

Rosetta flyby of asteroid Lutetia -- EXTENDED -- YouTube

[SunkenCiv]

join or quit list APoD 'blog post new APoD topic Astronomy Picture of the Day topic & keyword Astronomy Chat, Bloggers & keyword Science Chat, Bloggers & keyword NASA's APoD archive Calendar 1995-present APoD on your desktop

[dr_lew]

The asteroids being examined are the metaphorical Rosetta stones which are considered to contain the key to the early history of the solar system. Cf. the Why Rosetta? page at the Rosetta spacecraft site linked in the blurb.

[SunkenCiv]

;’)

[Explorer89]

Slightly off-topic, since it isn’t asteroid related, but the sun is in space.....saw this link posted by NASA on Facebook this morning. Terrific video for the SDO two year anniversary.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sdo/news/sdo-year2.html

[elephantlips]

Kaneesha, Letitia’s sister says, “You better not approach me!”

[Noob1999]

bttt -for tomorrow

[lurk]

“Is that the Rosetta stone?”

Looks more like a kidney stone.

Pass that bad boy and you’ll be doubled over for a day or two.

[bigheadfred]

Some chick said she was going to put some color on that rock in one of the article links. If she can try it, so can I.

[SunkenCiv]

Looks like head cheese that’s been around a little too long.