Spotting 2005 YU55: Instructions & Speed Info

[Oldfart]

I just saw a NASA radar image of it, how come the bottom half of the astroid is in shadow like an optical image?

Now that some of the dust has settled, I'll try this question again...

 

[DarioC]

OF,
On the radar image, two possibilities occur to me. The first is that the object is shaped so it tapers away from the "front" at the bottom and would not reflect the RF back very well.

Another possibility is that they just caught the asteroid with the outer edge of the coverage area of the transmit antenna.

Could be a combination of the two. Could be something completely different.
DC

 

[AlephZero]

NASA and others just bounce their own radio signal off the object
thats why its called a RADAR image :)

I haven't done any research on what shape this thing is, but I'll bet anybody $1,000 it's not a smooth sphere. Any apparent "shadow" effects will be variations in the reflectivity of different parts of the surface.

 

[Oldfart]

I haven't done any research on what shape this thing is, but I'll bet anybody $1,000 it's not a smooth sphere. Any apparent "shadow" effects will be variations in the reflectivity of different parts of the surface.

Well, it's a little lumpy, but still rather spherical. There's a radar video from Goldstone, it shows YU55 rotating about an axis pretty much parallel to our line of sight, and the bottom of the image stays dark regardless of the changing view.

Just give my $1000 to charity, thanks...

 

[2milehi]

No chance for me to try and see it. There were high, thin clouds that were being lit up by the full moon. The only "star" visible in the area of interest was Jupiter.

 

[mkarger]

Well, it's a little lumpy, but still rather spherical. There's a radar video from Goldstone, it shows YU55 rotating about an axis pretty much parallel to our line of sight, and the bottom of the image stays dark regardless of the changing view.

Just give my $1000 to charity, thanks...

2005 YU55 is most certainly not spherical. Not even close.

 

[Oldfart]

2005 YU55 is most certainly not spherical. Not even close.

OK, but in the radar image taken Nov 7 it was at least roundish, I guess the view was end-on..

 

[mkarger]

OK, but in the radar image taken Nov 7 it was at least roundish, I guess the view was end-on..

Yeah. It's absolutely not spherical. In fact, it's shaped somewhat like a peanut shell.

 

[Oldfart]

2005 YU55 is most certainly not spherical. Not even close.

Mkarger -- Can you give us a link to your picture of YU55? I searched but can't seem to find it anywhere. And the detail of your picture appears (to me) to be too fine for an object at its closest distance. I'm confused. Thanks.

 

[DaveC426913]

What this thread needs is more quoted pictures of YU55.

 

[mkarger]

Mkarger -- Can you give us a link to your picture of YU55? I searched but can't seem to find it anywhere. And the detail of your picture appears (to me) to be too fine for an object at its closest distance. I'm confused. Thanks.

The image is the link. Just do a google search.

Here's another.

 

[atotalmoron]

Guys,

Pretty sure those asteroids are Ida and Itokawa, not 2005 YU55.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/243_Ida

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/25143_Itokawa

 

[davenn]

Guys,

Pretty sure those asteroids are Ida and Itokawa, not 2005 YU55.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/243_Ida

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/25143_Itokawa

I totally agree,

mkarger, you need to check your data before posting it, I was thinking, probably like others here, wow awesome pix. But alas I was disappointed

Dave