This view of the asteroid Gaspra was taken by the Galileo spacecraft on October 29,1991,from a distance of about 10,000 miles. This image shows Gaspra in approximately true colour; the surface is covered with rocks that are somewhat less grey than those on Earth's moon. This was the first time that a spacecraft made a fly-by of an asteroid. Gaspra is an irregular body with dimensions of about 12.5 x 7.5 x 7 miles. Its surface reflects approximately 20 percent of the sunlight striking it. Gaspra is classified as an S-type asteroid and is likely composed of metal-rich silicates and perhaps blocks of pure metal | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / New York Public Library |
Taille de l’image : | 3656 px × 2748 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : |
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