Search
  • Videos
  • 5G
  • Windows 10
  • Cloud
  • Innovation
  • Security
  • Tech Pro
  • more
    • Apple
    • ZDNet Academy
    • Microsoft
    • Mobility
    • Hardware
    • Executive Guides
    • Best VPN Services
    • See All Topics
    • White Papers
    • Downloads
    • Reviews
    • Galleries
    • Videos
    • TechRepublic Forums
  • Newsletters
  • All Writers
    • Log In to ZDNET
    • Join ZDNet
    • About ZDNet
    • Preferences
    • Community
    • Newsletters
    • Log Out
  • Menu
    • Videos
    • 5G
    • Windows 10
    • Cloud
    • Innovation
    • Security
    • Tech Pro
    • Apple
    • ZDNet Academy
    • Microsoft
    • Mobility
    • Hardware
    • Executive Guides
    • Best VPN Services
    • See All Topics
    • White Papers
    • Downloads
    • Reviews
    • Galleries
    • Videos
    • TechRepublic Forums
      • Log In to ZDNET
      • Join ZDNet
      • About ZDNet
      • Preferences
      • Community
      • Newsletters
      • Log Out
  • us
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Europe
    • India
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    • ZDNet around the globe:
    • ZDNet China
    • ZDNet France
    • ZDNet Germany
    • ZDNet Korea
    • ZDNet Japan

NASA spacecraft orbits giant asteroid (photos)

1 of 9 NEXT PREV
  • 571327main_pia14313-43_946-710.jpg

    NASA reports that its Dawn spacecraft has sent back the first photo since it entered into orbit on Friday around the giant asteroid Vesta. The asteroid lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter - 117 million miles from Earth. It took Dawn almost four years to reach Vesta and will spend about a year studying the asteroid which is thought to be the source of many meteors which have struck Earth. Then, it will complete its mission by traveling to the dwarf planet Ceres.

    NASA scientists will spend about three weeks getting the Dawn spacecraft accustomed to its new surroundings around Vesta before beginning its study of the giant asteroid in earnest.

    Here's the first photo of Vesta returned by Dawn after it reached orbit.

    Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: July 14, 2011 -- 09:08 GMT (02:08 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 571436main_pia14314b-43_946-710.jpg

    "We are beginning the study of arguably the oldest extant primordial surface in the solar system," said Dawn principal investigator Christopher Russell from the University of California, Los Angeles.

    This anaglyph image of the asteroid Vesta was taken on July 9, 2011 by the framing camera instrument aboard NASA's Dawn spacecraft.

    Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA

     

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: July 14, 2011 -- 09:08 GMT (02:08 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 571373main_pia14316-43_946-710.jpg

    Vesta is about 300 miles in diameter with a surface area about the size of Arizona.

    Here is Vesta compared in size to other know rocks in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

    Vesta spins around once every 5 hours, 20 minutes. It's nearly a sphereoid shape with a huge chunk blasted from its south pole. Vesta is sometimes called 4 Vesta because it was the fourth object discovered in the asteroid belt in 1807.

    Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/JAXA/ESA

     

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: July 14, 2011 -- 09:08 GMT (02:08 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • vesta.jpg

    NASA expects that its Dawn spacecraft will enter orbit on July 15 around the asteroid Vesta which lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Dawn will study the giant asteroid for about a year from a distance expected to be around 9,900 miles before it moves on to the dwarf planet Ceres.

    Here is a recent photo from Dawn, taken on July 9 from about 26,000 miles. Each pixel represents about 2.4 miles.

    Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA

     

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: July 14, 2011 -- 09:08 GMT (02:08 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 175909main_dawn-ksc-007pd0864-330.jpg

    Here's how Dawn looked in NASA's "clean room" on Earth as it was being prepared for launch.

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: July 14, 2011 -- 09:08 GMT (02:08 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 190846main_ignition.jpg

    A Delta II rocket sent Dawn on its journey on Sept. 27, 2007, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: July 14, 2011 -- 09:08 GMT (02:08 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 541663main_pia14125-43_946-710.jpg

    This artist's conception shows what Dawn would look like as it moves between its two targets, Vesta and Ceres. This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: July 14, 2011 -- 09:08 GMT (02:08 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 569825main_dawn-image-070111-43_946-710.jpg

    This what was Vesta looked like from the Dawn spacecraft from about 62,000 miles on July 1. This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: July 14, 2011 -- 09:08 GMT (02:08 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 569814main_dawn-image-062411-43_946-710.jpg

    This image of Vesta was taken from about 95,000 miles on June 24. This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: July 14, 2011 -- 09:08 GMT (02:08 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

1 of 9 NEXT PREV
  • 571327main_pia14313-43_946-710.jpg
  • 571436main_pia14314b-43_946-710.jpg
  • 571373main_pia14316-43_946-710.jpg
  • vesta.jpg
  • 175909main_dawn-ksc-007pd0864-330.jpg
  • 190846main_ignition.jpg
  • 541663main_pia14125-43_946-710.jpg
  • 569825main_dawn-image-070111-43_946-710.jpg
  • 569814main_dawn-image-062411-43_946-710.jpg

NASA expects that its Dawn spacecraft will enter orbit on July 15 around the asteroid Vesta which lies between Mars and Jupiter.

Read More Read Less

NASA reports that its Dawn spacecraft has sent back the first photo since it entered into orbit on Friday around the giant asteroid Vesta. The asteroid lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter - 117 million miles from Earth. It took Dawn almost four years to reach Vesta and will spend about a year studying the asteroid which is thought to be the source of many meteors which have struck Earth. Then, it will complete its mission by traveling to the dwarf planet Ceres.

NASA scientists will spend about three weeks getting the Dawn spacecraft accustomed to its new surroundings around Vesta before beginning its study of the giant asteroid in earnest.

Here's the first photo of Vesta returned by Dawn after it reached orbit.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
Published: July 14, 2011 -- 09:08 GMT (02:08 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

1 of 9 NEXT PREV

Related Topics:

Innovation CXO Digital Transformation Tech Industry Smart Cities Cloud
LOG IN TO COMMENT
  • My Profile
  • Log Out
| Community Guidelines

Join Discussion

Add Your Comment
Add Your Comment

Related Galleries

  • 1 of 3
  • Old flames: Products that keep the retro fires burning

    It's no fun when lovers play mind games, but there's no shortage of ways to celebrate one's love of old video games, not to mention other tedh products carrying brands that once flamed ...

  • Tech that stole our heart or broke it

    With Valentine's Day around the corner, ZDNet's contributors and editors were reminded of all the technology they were infatuated with, either in their past or present, as well as ...

  • Valentine's Day gifts: Tech for lovers and friends

    If your partner or friend is tech-obsessed, we've rounded some cool items we think they'll love this Valentine's Day.

  • Crowdfunding projects that left backers jilted at the altar

    Crowdfunding offers products such as smartwatches, smartphone accessories, and smart printers. Backing them, however, may not always be a smart move. Whether it be to malice, or ...

  • Star Trek technology still influential after over 50 years

    The 20th century Earthlings who first tuned into the "Star Trek" television series in 1966 would certainly be amazed at how much science fiction is now science fact. ...

  • CES 2019: Anker announced refreshed product line

    Lots of new accessories being unveiled by Anker, including chargers, in-car chargers, power banks, speakers, and much more.

  • CES 2019: Weird and wonderful tech, gadgets

    Here are some of the more unusual, novel, and sometimes bizarre products being showcased at CES 2019.

ZDNet
Connect with us

© 2019 CBS Interactive. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Cookies | Ad Choice | Advertise | Terms of Use | Mobile User Agreement

  • Topics
  • All Authors
  • Galleries
  • Videos
  • Sponsored Narratives
  • About ZDNet
  • Meet The Team
  • Site Map
  • RSS Feeds
  • Reprint Policy
  • Manage | Log Out
  • Join | Log In | Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Site Assistance
  • ZDNet Academy
  • TechRepublic Forums