See first Dawn-ing image of asteroid Vesta

William Atkins
Thursday, 12 May 2011 01:27

Science - Space

The NASA Dawn spacecraft has taken its first picture of the nearing asteroid Vesta. The image was taken about 752,000 miles from the asteroid. See the image here.

 

The picture from the Dawn spacecraft was taken on May 3, 2011, when it was about 752,000 miles (1.21 million kilometers) away from the asteroid Vesta.

Dawn is rapidly approaching the asteroid on a mission that will eventually orbit the gigantic asteroid.

The asteroid is very large -- about 330 miles (530 kilometers) in diameter. In fact, it is also classified as a protoplanet, a body that did not quite make it to being as large as a planet. It's smaller than a dwarf planet, and even smaller than a planet.

NASA states in its article 'NASA Dawn Spacecraft Captures First Image of Nearing Asteroid' that the first image taken by its spacecraft of the asteroid makes it appear 'as a small, bright pearl against a background of stars.'

Carol Raymond is the deputy principal investigator for NASA (at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory) in its Dawn mission. Dr. Raymond states, "After plying the seas of space for more than a billion miles, the Dawn team finally spotted its target. This first image hints of detailed portraits to come from Dawn's upcoming visit."

The Dawn spacecraft expects to begin orbiting Vesta on July 16, 2011.

Page two concludes with the image of Vesta as seen from the Dawn spacecraft.