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Collision of Two Asteroids Spotted For the First Time

Posted by timothy on from the delicious-space-dust dept.

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."

19 of 31 comments (clear)

  1. Remember by SilverHatHacker · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you get too close to the debris, you can press Down to teleport.

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    Funny may not give karma, but +5 Informative never made anyone snort coffee out their nose.
  2. As previously seen on Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    A Hyper-Velocity Impact In the Asteroid Belt?

  3. didn't spot collision by Xtifr · · Score: 4, Informative

    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.

    1. Re:didn't spot collision by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'll bet she was on her cellphone and didn't even notice the damage.

    2. Re:didn't spot collision by MichaelSmith · · Score: 3, Funny

      I'll bet she was on her cellphone and didn't even notice the damage.

      No, my sister was definitely in the UK at the time.

      --
      http://michaelsmith.id.au
    3. Re:didn't spot collision by Blain · · Score: 2, Funny

      "And I'm like, 'OMG! Becky's not even hot!'"

    4. Re:didn't spot collision by Zeabra · · Score: 1

      how true!

    5. Re:didn't spot collision by meteficha · · Score: 1

      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."

      Consequences will never be the same!

  4. Re:Bogeys on DRADIS by Octorian · · Score: 1

    It actually looks a lot more like a Centari Vorchan class warship.

  5. Impossible by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 3, Funny

    The possibility of successfully spotting an asteroid collision is approximately 3,720 to 1!

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    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    1. Re:Impossible by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1

      The possibility of successfully spotting an asteroid collision is approximately 3,720 to 1!

      That's no problem. Just get a big cup of really hot tea....

      I don't want to run the risk of picking up hitch hikers.

      --
      http://michaelsmith.id.au
  6. Re:PDAsteroids by MichaelSmith · · Score: 3, Funny

    And reproducing. Look at all the little asteroids out of that one.

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    http://michaelsmith.id.au
  7. Duplicate? by pgn674 · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

  8. Re:Old News by The+Bad+Astronomer · · Score: 3, Informative

    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...

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    *** Phil Plait, aka The Bad Astronomer http://www.badastronomy.com
  9. Re:Bogeys on DRADIS by lennier1 · · Score: 1

    Or like an advanced Chig fighter from "Space: Above and Beyond".

  10. Einstein was right! by Alain+Williams · · Score: 4, Funny
    Einstien said of God: ''I, at any rate, am convinced that He does not throw dice.''

    It seems that we now know that God plays billiards instead :-)

  11. Intra-stellar Warming by Dabido · · Score: 1

    I think it's just melting because the solar system is warming up. Of course, I might have just said that to be silly. :-)

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    Sure enough, the cow costume was hanging up next to the superhero outfit and sailors uniform. (S,Spud)
    1. Re:Intra-stellar Warming by tonique · · Score: 1

      But that can't be anthropogenic!

    2. Re:Intra-stellar Warming by Dabido · · Score: 1

      It might be if scientists were talking about it and made it's ears burn!! :-)

      --
      Sure enough, the cow costume was hanging up next to the superhero outfit and sailors uniform. (S,Spud)