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Astronomy Picture for Today
nasa ^
| 12/28/2005
| DG
Posted on 12/28/2005 10:04:13 AM PST by HOTTIEBOY
Smooth Sections on Asteroid Itokawa
Credit & Copyright: ISAS, JAXA
Explanation: Why are parts of this asteroid's surface so smooth? No one is yet sure, but it may have to do with the dynamics of an asteroid that is a loose pile of rubble rather than a solid rock. The unusual asteroid is currently being visited by the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa that is documenting its unusual structure and mysterious lack of craters. Last month, Hayabusa actually touched down on one of the smooth patches, dubbed the MUSES Sea, and collected soil samples that will eventually be returned to Earth for analysis. Unfortunately, the robot Hayabusa craft has been experiencing communications problems and so its departure for Earth has been delayed until 2007. Computer simulations show that 500-meter asteroid Itokawa may impact the Earth within the next few million years.
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: asteroid; asteroiditokawa; astronomy; hayabusa; itokawa; japan; motorcycle; space
...is currently being visited by the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa...
I don't know that much about this spacecraft, but I have owned a Hayabusa...and it certainly felt like a rocket to me...more than my liter gixxer.
Follow the link for interesting hyperlinks.
1
posted on
12/28/2005 10:04:14 AM PST
by
HOTTIEBOY
To: KevinDavis; fnord; Michael Goldsberry; rdb3; MNJohnnie; thoughtomator
Ping
freepmail me to get on or off this list.
2
posted on
12/28/2005 10:05:24 AM PST
by
HOTTIEBOY
(If the enemy is in shooting range, so are you.)
To: HOTTIEBOY
Computer simulations show that 500-meter asteroid Itokawa may impact the Earth within the next few million years.
Bush's fault. :)
3
posted on
12/28/2005 10:06:31 AM PST
by
Democracy In Iraq
(When a soldier dies, a protester gloats, a family cries, an Iraqi votes)
To: HOTTIEBOY
4
posted on
12/28/2005 10:10:04 AM PST
by
RightWhale
(pas de lieu, Rhone que nous)
Comment #5 Removed by Moderator
To: What a Maroon; HOTTIEBOY
I thought it was a pic pulled from Ratemypoo.com.
That was bad.I know. he he.
Hottieboy, thanks for the pings on this. Astronomy rocks. And in the case of today's photo, it really is. (get it? Astronomy? Rocks?)
6
posted on
12/28/2005 10:15:56 AM PST
by
Woman on Caroline Street
(Go sell crazy somewhere else. We're all stocked up here.)
To: HOTTIEBOY
Oops. I thought you pinged me on this. Could you please add me to this pinglist? Thanks!
7
posted on
12/28/2005 10:17:07 AM PST
by
Woman on Caroline Street
(Go sell crazy somewhere else. We're all stocked up here.)
To: Woman on Caroline Street
You're quite welcome. Are you on my ping list? Am I doing the ping thing right?
RateMyPoo...........ok
8
posted on
12/28/2005 10:21:34 AM PST
by
HOTTIEBOY
(If the enemy is in shooting range, so are you.)
To: Woman on Caroline Street
9
posted on
12/28/2005 10:22:34 AM PST
by
HOTTIEBOY
(If the enemy is in shooting range, so are you.)
To: HOTTIEBOY
I used to be on the Astronomy Picture ping list. Have you started a new one? Please include if you don't mind.
10
posted on
12/28/2005 10:23:20 AM PST
by
RightWhale
(pas de lieu, Rhone que nous)
To: RightWhale
Done. BTW, KevinDavis has a space ping list. It is more along the lines of nasa news.
11
posted on
12/28/2005 10:27:04 AM PST
by
HOTTIEBOY
(If the enemy is in shooting range, so are you.)
To: HOTTIEBOY
Right. Space news and astronomy are the best ping lists as far as I am concerned. It's a fair amount of work and appreciated.
12
posted on
12/28/2005 10:29:25 AM PST
by
RightWhale
(pas de lieu, Rhone que nous)
To: HOTTIEBOY
Computer simulations show that 500-meter asteroid Itokawa may impact the Earth within the next few million years.My anxiety closet is going to have to be a lot bigger to fit this asteroid in there.
To: HOTTIEBOY
14
posted on
12/28/2005 5:39:40 PM PST
by
kcar
(theUNsucks.com)
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