Collision of Two Asteroids Spotted For the First Time

sciencehabit writes "Astronomers report that a small asteroid located in the inner asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter took a major hit early last year. Previously rendered only in artists' conceptions, the first asteroid collision known in modern times revealed itself in a tail of debris streaming from what astronomers at first assumed was a comet. Instead of a steady stream of dust, however, they found boulders near the object with dust moving away from them."

Comments

As previously seen on Slashdot

[Anonymous Coward]

A Hyper-Velocity Impact In the Asteroid Belt?

didn't spot collision

[Xtifr]

Technically, they didn't spot the collision. What they spotted was an asteroid that was probably involved in a recent collision. FTA: "Backtracking, they calculated that a single impact by a smaller asteroid could have blasted it all off the asteroid in February or March 2009." (Emphasis mine.) Still a pretty cool pic, though.

Duplicate?

[pgn674]

Is this the same collision that was reported here on January 19, 2010: Slashdot Science Story | A Hyper-Velocity Impact In the Asteroid Belt??

It looks like the picture is from February 2, 2010: Two asteroids suspected in space collision - Technology & science - Space - Space.com - msnbc.com

When I clicked TFA link, I immediately recognized the image from somewhere. I think it's nice to have references to where you may have seen this before, if just to assure you that you have not gone as crazy as you may fear.

Re:Old News

[The Bad Astronomer]

Yup. Hubble captures picture of asteroid collision! :) I think the news here is that the scientists have now had time to look into this more and have confirmed it. HOWEVER, I'm not sure of that. I'm thinking Emily Lakdawalla at The Planetary Society Blog will have something on this...