Hayabusa2 probe captures photo of a two-headed asteroid Torifune

On July 5, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)’s Hayabusa2 probe performed a close flyby of asteroid Torifune-a 1,475-foot (450-meter) space rock currently traveling through space some 100 million kilometers from Earth.  

During the flyby, Hayabusa2 captured this breathtaking new image of Torifune using its optical camera, and was able to transmit it back to JAXA controllers. 

About Torifune

Torifune orbits the sun every 383 days and rotates every 5 hours. It belongs to the Apollo group, a classification of near-Earth asteroids whose orbits cross Earth’s as they make their way around the sun.

About Hayabusa 2 

Launched in December 2014, Hayabusa 2 landed on asteroid Ryugu twice in 2019 and sent back to Earth a capsule that contained samples in December 2020. Hayabusa 2 is expected to reach its final destination, asteroid 1998KY26, in 2031.

About Asteroids

According to NASA, Asteroids are rocky, airless remnants left over from the early formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. 

Most asteroids can be found orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter within the main asteroid belt. Asteroids range in size from Vesta – the largest at about 329 miles (530 kilometers) in diameter – to bodies that are less than 33 feet (10 meters) across.

Sources: Space.com, NASA, Japan Times

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