Contents | What's New | Image Index | Copyright | Puzzles | Posters | ScienceViews | Search |

PHOTO INDEX OF PRIMARY TARGETS ASTEROIDS COMETS EARTH JUPITER KUIPER BELT MARS MERCURY METEORITES NEPTUNE OORT CLOUD PLUTO SATURN SOLAR SYSTEM SPACE SUN URANUS VENUS ORDER PRINTS OTHER PHOTO INDEXES ALL TARGETS PHOTO CATEGORIES SCIENCEVIEWS AMPHIBIANS BIRDS BUGS FINE ART FOSSILS INDIAN ISLANDS MAMMALS OTHER PARKS PLANTS RELIGIOUS REPTILES ROCKS & MINERALS SCIENCEVIEWS PRINTS

Eros's Contorted Shape Target Name:   Asteroid Eros Spacecraft:   NEAR Produced by:   NASA/JHU-APL Copyright:  NASA Copyright Free Policy Cross Reference:   19990201 Date Released:  1 February 1999 Related Document Asteroid Eros Download Options Name Type Width x Height Size eros5.gif GIF 523 x 371 28K eros5.tif TIFF 523 x 371 569K These three images of the asteroid Eros were taken on December 23, 1998 from the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft as it flew by the asteroid. The images, taken over 2.5 hours as the spacecraft range from the asteroid decreased from 5880 to 2375 miles (9486 to 3830 kilometers), are shown here with renditions of the asteroid's shape from the same perspectives. Eros is a very elongated object about 21 by 8 by 8 miles (33 by 13 by 13 kilometers) in size. Qualitatively, the asteroid's shape has been compared to a shoe, a battered boat, or a peanut. The model of Eros's shape was constructed from all of the images acquired during the flyby, using horizon profiles, shadow locations, and measured locations of landmarks.

Views of the Solar System Copyright © 1995-2008 by Calvin J. Hamilton. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement