Astronomers spot asteroid collision
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, it wasn't uncommon to see X-shaped bodies dashing about a solar system. But in this era, in this neck of the universe, it is decidedly strange. Yet the Hubble Space Telescope picked up just such an X-shaped debris pattern trailing a tail of dust and gravel last month that has NASA's brain trust excited: We may have witnessed two asteroids colliding head-on for the very first time. The comet-like mystery object, 90 million miles from Earth, was first imaged up by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research program in early January, at which point Hubble's new Wide Field Camera 3 took over and captured the image here. But what looked at first glance like a comet proved in the Hubble images to be trailing a rough debris trail rather than the smooth dust envelope indicative of a comet. Ground-based telescopes also could not establish any of the gases usually present in a comet's debris trail in the object's spectra. Instead, NASA researchers now think the debris trail was
Astronomers spot asteroid collision
Astronomers have found a comet-like object they believe was created by the collision of two asteroids, and may be linked to the rogue rock blamed for wiping out the dinosaurs.
Tue 2 Feb 10 from ABC Science
Suspected Asteroid Collision Leaves Odd X-Pattern of Trailing Debris
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has imaged a mysterious X-shaped debris pattern and trailing streamers of dust that suggest a head-on collision between two asteroids. Astronomers ...
Tue 2 Feb 10 from PhysOrg
Slam! Two Asteroids Suspected in Space Collision
A mysterious trail of debris spotted in space suggests two asteroids recently slammed into each other.
Tue 2 Feb 10 from SPACE.com
Astronomers spot aftermath of asteroid collision
An object trailing debris was originally thought to be a comet, but images taken by Hubble indicate that two asteroids apparently collided head-on. Researchers have never seen anything like ...
Fri 5 Feb 10 from L.A. Times
Astronomers spot aftermath of asteroid collision, Tue 2 Feb 10 from L.A. Times
UPI NewsTrack Health and Science News
Hubble spots possible asteroid collision ... The Lancet retracts autism/vaccine study ... NASA prepares for a space shuttle launch ... Anesthetic blocks pain, not motor function ... Health/Science ...
Tue 2 Feb 10 from UPI
Mystery Debris Pattern Streaking Through Space Could Be First Image of Asteroid Collision
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, it wasn't uncommon to see X-shaped bodies dashing about a solar system. But in this era, in this neck of the universe, it is decidedly strange. Yet ...
Tue 2 Feb 10 from Popular Science
Hubble, sky survey catch rare asteroid crash, NASA says
A mysterious X-shaped pattern of space debris seen by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope was probably two asteroids that collided, scientists said Tuesday.
Tue 2 Feb 10 from CNN
Smashed asteroids may be related to dinosaur killer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Astronomers have found a comet-like object they believe was created by the collision of two asteroids, possible siblings of the rogue rock blamed for killing ...
Tue 2 Feb 10 from Reuters
Hubble Spots First Potential Asteroid Collision
The X marks the spot of a suspected head-on collision between two asteroids imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope’s new-and-improved Wide Field Camera. If it’s confirmed by further ...
Tue 2 Feb 10 from Wired Science
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