HUBBLE ATLAS

Solar System

Hubble captures aftermath of asteroid collision

October 13, 2010 · ESA/Hubble

Original on ESA/Hubble ↗

This video shows the relative positions of Earth and asteroid P/2010 A2 in early 2010. As their different orbits draw them further apart, the images taken by Hubble get progressively smaller. The asteroid’s unusual X-shaped debris trail is thought to be due to a recent impact with a smaller object.