06-27-2017, 04:18 PM
How asteroids break apart
http://gemini.edu/node/12678
This study was performed using the Gemini North Telescope on Mauna Kea. It's interesting as it demonstrates what might happen if we ever use the wrong technique to deal with an asteroid that is on a collision course with the Earth. If you have a dense and solid asteroid heading your way, simply trying to blow it up may result in more asteroids heading your way. This is why time is now spent trying to determine what asteroids are made of and how solid they are, e.g., are they solid lumps of dense rock, or a conglomeration of rubble (work that UKIRT is actively involved in).
The three ways an asteroid might fragment were studied: a break up due to the rotation of the asteroid, an impact that cratered the asteroid which resulted in debris, or a break up of the asteroid caused by a collision with another asteroid. The authors believe the latter is the most likely explanation in this case.
http://gemini.edu/node/12678
This study was performed using the Gemini North Telescope on Mauna Kea. It's interesting as it demonstrates what might happen if we ever use the wrong technique to deal with an asteroid that is on a collision course with the Earth. If you have a dense and solid asteroid heading your way, simply trying to blow it up may result in more asteroids heading your way. This is why time is now spent trying to determine what asteroids are made of and how solid they are, e.g., are they solid lumps of dense rock, or a conglomeration of rubble (work that UKIRT is actively involved in).
The three ways an asteroid might fragment were studied: a break up due to the rotation of the asteroid, an impact that cratered the asteroid which resulted in debris, or a break up of the asteroid caused by a collision with another asteroid. The authors believe the latter is the most likely explanation in this case.