Suspected Asteroid Collision Leaves Trailing Debris



Source:  NASA RELEASE: 10-029

Excerpt: WASHINGTON -- NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has observed a mysterious X-shaped debris pattern and trailing streamers of dust that suggest a head-on collision between two asteroids. Astronomers have long thought the asteroid belt is being ground down through collisions, but such a smashup has never been seen before.  Asteroid collisions are energetic, with an average impact speed of more than 11,000 miles per hour, or five times faster than a rifle bullet....

www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/feb/HQ_10-029_Hubble_asteroid.html

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