Approaching Asteroid Has Its Own Moon   
       
   May 30, 2013: Approaching asteroid 1998 QE2 has a moon. Researchers found it   
   in a sequence of radar images obtained by the 70-meter Deep Space Network   
   antenna at Goldstone, Calif., on the evening of May 29th (May 30th Universal   
   Time) when the asteroid was about 6 million kilometers from Earth.   
       
   The preliminary estimate for the size of the asteroid's satellite is   
   approximately 600 meters wide. The asteroid itself is approximately 2.7   
   kilometers in diameter and has a rotation period of less than four hours.   
       
   http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/752421main_asteroid20130530.jpg   
       
   First radar images of asteroid 1998 QE2 were obtained when the asteroid was   
   about 3.75 million miles (6 million kilometers) from Earth. The radar collage   
   covers a little bit more than two hours.  Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/GSSR   
       
   The radar observations were led by scientist Marina Brozovic of NASA's Jet   
   Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA.   
       
   These findings show that 1998 QE2 is a binary asteroid. In the near-Earth   
   population, about 16 percent of asteroids that are about 200 meters or larger   
   are binary or triple systems  Also revealed in the radar imagery of 1998 QE2   
   are several dark surface features that suggest large concavities.   
       
   The closest approach of the asteroid occurs on May 31 at 1:59 p.m. Pacific   
   (4:59 p.m. Eastern / 20:59 UTC), when the asteroid will get no closer than   
   about 5.8 million kilometers, or about 15 times the distance between Earth and   
   the Moon. This is the closest approach the asteroid will make to Earth for at   
   least the next two centuries. Asteroid 1998 QE2 was discovered on Aug. 19,   
   1998, by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid   
   Research (LINEAR) program near Socorro, N.M.   
       
   The resolution of these initial images of 1998 QE2 is approximately 75 meters   
   per pixel. Resolution is expected to increase in the coming days as more data   
   become available. Between May 30 and June 9, radar astronomers using the Deep   
   Space Network antenna at Goldstone, Calif., and the Arecibo Observatory in   
   Puerto Rico, will perform an extensive campaign of observations on asteroid   
   1998 QE2. The two telescopes have complementary imaging capabilities that will   
   enable astronomers to learn as much as possible about the asteroid during its   
   brief visit near Earth.   
       
   Stay tuned for updates.   
       
   Credits:   
       
   Author: Dr. Tony Phillips | Production editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit:   
   Science@NASA   
       
   More information:   
       
   NASA places a high priority on tracking asteroids and protecting our home   
   planet from them. In fact, the United States has the most robust and   
   productive survey and detection program for discovering near-Earth objects. To   
   date, U.S. assets have discovered more than 98 percent of the known Near-Earth   
   Objects.   
       
   In 2012, the Near-Earth Object budget was increased from $6 million to $20   
   million. Literally dozens of people are involved with some aspect of   
   near-Earth object research across NASA and its centers. Moreover, there are   
   many more people involved in researching and understanding the nature of   
   asteroids and comets, including those objects that come close to Earth, plus   
   those who are trying to find and track them in the first place.   
       
   In addition to the resources NASA puts into understanding asteroids, it also   
   partners with other U.S. government agencies, university-based astronomers,   
   and space science institutes across the country that are working to track and   
   better understand these objects, often with grants, interagency transfers and   
   other contracts from NASA.   
       
   NASA's Near-Earth Object Program at NASA Headquarters, Washington, manages and   
   funds the search, study, and monitoring of asteroids and comets whose orbits   
   periodically bring them close to Earth. JPL manages the Near-Earth Object   
   Program Office for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. JPL is a   
   division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.   
       
       
   Regards,   
       
   Roger   
      
   --- D'Bridge 3.94   
    * Origin: NCS BBS - Houma, LoUiSiAna (1:3828/7)