Get the latest Science News and Discoveries

Scientists Find the First Direct Evidence of Binary Asteroids Sharing Material


Scientists occasionally have a hard time figuring out whether data they are seeing is an actual physical phenomenon or just a trick of their instrumentation. A new paper in The Planetary Science Journal from Jessica Sunshine and their colleagues at the University of Maryland describes one such confusing scenario. In this case, the researchers noted some fan-like patterns across the surface of Dimorphos, the asteroid hit by NASA’s DART mission, and thought it might be a trick of their camera. But after some image correction, computation, and physical experimentation, they determined the patterns were caused by the first-ever documented cases of material transfer between two asteroids.

None

Get the Android app

Or read this on Universe Today

Read more on:

Photo of Scientists

Scientists

Photo of material

material

Photo of direct evidence

direct evidence

Related news:

News photo

Scientists 'Re-Watch' Videos Seen by Mice by Studying Their Brains

News photo

Scientists finally solve the mystery of yeast’s tiny centromeres

News photo

“Unlike Anything We’ve Ever Seen” – Bizarre New Insect Discovered in South America Stuns Scientists