NEAR Shoemaker Views Eros
Explanation:
Orbiting asteroid 433 Eros, 145 million miles
from Earth, NASA's NEAR spacecraft has been returning
stunning views
as its year long mission of exploration
nears
completion.
A mosaic of
NEAR images recorded
at a range of about 127 miles,
this picture illustrates
some of the amazing contrasts which apparently exist within the
domain of this diminutive world.
Features as small as 65 feet are visible here,
while long
shadows emphasize
the differences in the cratered regions at the left and
smooth grooved terrain at right.
Up close, the undulating surface seems
flecked with bright deposits and
peppered with enormous
boulders.
Last year, NASA changed the spacecraft name from NEAR to
NEAR-Shoemaker
in honor of the late Dr.
Eugene M. Shoemaker,
legendary geologist,
comet hunter,
and inspirational pioneer in the field
of interplanetary science.
Tomorrow,
NEAR-Shoemaker
will
complete
its scheduled mission as it will be
commanded to descend to the surface of the ancient
asteroid.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
