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> Asteroid Steins seen by Rosetta spacecraft

Asteroid Steins seen by Rosetta spacecraft

author: ESA/MPS/Novapix

reference: a-ast03-00001

Image Size 300 DPI: 10 * 6 cm

Asteroid Steins seen from a distance of 800 km, taken by the OSIRIS imaging system on Rosetta spacecraft from two different perspectives. The effective diameter of the asteroid is 5 km, approximately as predicted. At the top of the asteroid (as shown in this image), a large crater, approximately 1.5-km in size, can be seen. Scientists were amazed that the asteroid survived the impact that was responsible for the crater. September 5th 2008.

Keywords for this photo:

2008 - ASTEROID - ASTRONOMY - BLACK AND WHITE - IMPACT CRATER - ROSETTA - STEINS -