Asteroid Annefrank
Explanation:
NASA's interplanetary probe
STARDUST,
on its way to
Comet Wild 2 in January 2004, passed asteroid
5535 Annefrank earlier this month.
Annefrank, named for a
holocaust
victim who kept a
famous diary, is a member of the
main asteroid belt between
Mars and
Jupiter.
Just prior to closest approach at about 3300 km distant, the
robot spacecraft took the
above picture.
Although images obtained were not detailed enough to
resolve much of the asteroid's surface, the size, reflectivity,
and general shape of the asteroid were
recorded.
At 6 kilometers across, asteroid Annefrank turned out to be
larger -- and darker -- than expected.
Deadline Approaching:
Send your name to Mars!
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.
