Gemini image of asteroid 1998 KY26 (annotated) (IMAGE)
Caption
The tiny asteroid 1998 KY26 (center) is observed here by the Gemini South telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, funded in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation and operated by NSF NOIRLab.
The observations have revealed that 1998 KY26 is just 11 meters wide, almost three times smaller than previously thought, and is spinning once every 5 minutes, which is almost two times faster than expected.
This image is composed of exposures taken through four filters. As exposures are taken, the asteroid remains fixed in the center of the telescope’s field of view. However, the positions of the background stars change relative to the asteroid, causing them to appear as colorful streaks in the final image.
Credit
International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/T. Santana-Ros
Usage Restrictions
Credit must be given to the creator.
License
CC BY