Hayabusa2 Asteroid Sample: Unexpected Agility
- Here's a breakdown of the provided text, summarizing the key information about asteroid 1998 KY26:
- * Size: Much smaller than previously thought - only 11 meters in diameter.
- In essence, the text describes a revised understanding of asteroid 1998 KY26, highlighting its unexpectedly small size and incredibly fast rotation, which pose challenges for the upcoming Hayabusa2...
Here’s a breakdown of the provided text, summarizing the key information about asteroid 1998 KY26:
Key Findings about Asteroid 1998 KY26:
* Size: Much smaller than previously thought – only 11 meters in diameter.
* Rotation: Rotates very quickly, completing a full rotation in just 5 minutes.This is twice as fast as earlier estimates.
* Observation Method: Observed using the Very Large Telescope (VLT) of the european Southern Observatory (ESO).
* Implications for Hayabusa2 Mission: the small size and rapid rotation will make landing on the asteroid substantially more challenging for the Hayabusa2 spacecraft.
* Difficulty of Study: Due to it’s small size and dimness, studying 1998 KY26 requires careful observation.
In essence, the text describes a revised understanding of asteroid 1998 KY26, highlighting its unexpectedly small size and incredibly fast rotation, which pose challenges for the upcoming Hayabusa2 mission.
The image accompanying the text is a comparison of asteroids Ryugu and 1998 KY26, visually demonstrating the size difference.The credit for the image and models is given to ESO/M. Kornmesser, T. Santana-Ros, JAXA/University of Aizu/Kobe University.