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Impact crater data analysis of Ryugu asteroid illuminates complicated geological history by Staff Writers Kobe, Japan (SPX) Nov 28, 2019
Analysis of the impact craters on Ryugu using the spacecraft Hayabusa 2's remote sensing image data has illuminated the geological history of the Near-Earth asteroid. A research group led by Assistant Professor Naoyuki Hirata of the Department of Planetology at Kobe University's Graduate School of Science revealed 77 craters on Ryugu. Through analyzing the location patterns and characteristics of the craters, they determined that the asteroid's eastern and western hemispheres were formed at different periods of time. It is hoped that the collected data can be used as a basis for future asteroid research and analysis. These results were first published in the American Scientific Journal 'Icarus' on November 5 2019. The Japan Space Agency (JAXA)'s Hayabusa 2 has been used to carry out various missions to increase our understanding of the spinning top-shaped, Near-Earth asteroid Ryugu. Since arriving in June 2018, the unmanned spacecraft has taken samples and a great number of images of the asteroid. It is hoped that these can reveal more about Ryugu's formation and history. This research group focused on using the image data to determine the number and location of impact craters on the asteroid. Impact craters are formed when a smaller asteroid or a comet hits the surface of the asteroid. Analyzing the spatial distribution and the number of impact craters can reveal the frequency of collisions and aid researchers in determining the age of different surface areas.
Research Methodology The depressions identified on Ryugu were divided into four categories- depending on how evident their circular appearance was. Category I to III depressions were classified as distinct craters. Category IV depressions only had quasi-circular features, therefore it was hard to determine whether they were craters or not. Many craters were filled with boulders or lacked a distinct shape. Depressions that were too vague to determine were left out of the results.
Research Results The equatorial ridge in the eastern hemisphere was determined to be a fossil structure. When asteroids like Ryugu rotate at high speeds, this can alter their shape. It is thought that this ridge formed in the distant past during a period when it only took Ryugu 3 hours to rotate. As the eastern hemisphere and western hemisphere were formed at different periods of the asteroid's history- this suggests that there have been at least two instances where Ryugu's rotational speed has increased.
Further Research Hayabusa2 is scheduled to drop the capsule containing samples of Ryugu's surface into Earth's atmosphere in late 2020. Analysis of these samples should provide further insight into the asteroid and how it was formed.
Amateur astronomers: help choose asteroid flybys for Hera Paris (ESA) Nov 27, 2019 Amateur astronomers around the world are being asked to help the proposed ESA asteroid mission. As well as exploring its final destination - the Didymos binary asteroid system - the Hera spacecraft could potentially fly past one or more bodies on the way. But the mission team require additional observations to help select their targets. "Asteroid research is one area of astronomy where amateur observers continue to make an essential contribution," says Prof. Alan Fitzsimmons of Queen's University ... read more
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