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Asteroid Vesta
author: Nasa/Novapix
reference: a-ast04-00001
Image Size 300 DPI: 23 * 15 cm
Astronomers have used the Hubble Space telescope to discover a giant impact crater on the asteroid Vesta.
Left is a Hubble Space Telescope image of the asteroid Vesta, taken in May 1996 when the asteroid was 110 million miles from Earth. The asymmetry of the asteroid and "nub" and the south pole is suggestive that it suffered a large impact event. Center is a color-encoded elevation map of Vesta that clearly shows the giant 285- mile diameter impact basin and "bull's-eye" central peak. Right is a 3-D computer model of the asteroid Vesta synthesized from Hubble topographic data. The crater's 8-mile high central peak can clearly be seen near the pole.
Left is a Hubble Space Telescope image of the asteroid Vesta, taken in May 1996 when the asteroid was 110 million miles from Earth. The asymmetry of the asteroid and "nub" and the south pole is suggestive that it suffered a large impact event. Center is a color-encoded elevation map of Vesta that clearly shows the giant 285- mile diameter impact basin and "bull's-eye" central peak. Right is a 3-D computer model of the asteroid Vesta synthesized from Hubble topographic data. The crater's 8-mile high central peak can clearly be seen near the pole.
Keywords for this photo:
1996 - ASTEROID - ASTEROID BELT - ASTRONOMY - HST - HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - IMPACT CRATER - VESTA -
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