Near-Earth Asteroid Zips by Our Planet and is Imaged by New Radio Transmitter

First Posted: Jul 14, 2015 01:43 PM EDT

Scientists have taken a closer look at a near-Earth asteroids that zipped by our planet on July 7. The findings reveal a bit more about this rare, close encounter with the asteroid.

The new findings are actually due to a series of new radar studies, which took advantage of the close encounter with the asteroid, 2015 HM10. The radar studies produced a collage of 42 images that spanned a total of 29 minutes. The images themselves reveal an elongated object that is only about 80 meters across at its widest point.

"Radar studies such as these are essential to fully constrain the orbit of these objects to determine if they pose any future risk," said Toney Minter of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in a news release.

In order to create these new images, a continuous radar signal was sent from a transmitter to the asteroid. The reflected signal was then received by a 100-meter diameter dish in a process called bistatic radar imaging. The produced images had a resolution of about 3.75 meters per pixel.

"It was a fortunate coincidence that asteroid 2015 HM10 was in position to make these observations," said Alyson Ford, NRAO astronomer. "With the help of NASA, we were able to perform a particularly exciting observing session with these astronomers and demonstrate the power of radio astronomy to study near-Earth asteroids."

The new observations actually demonstrate the capabilities of the new radio transmitter. Although it was actually designed for spacecraft communication, it can always be used to study near Earth asteroids.

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TagsAsteroid, Near Earth asteroid, space, NASA