INBOX ASTRONOMY
Webb Detects Extremely Small Main Belt Asteroid
Release date: Monday, February 6, 2023 10:00:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
The object belongs to the poorly known sub-kilometer category of asteroids in the main belt.
An asteroid roughly the size of Romeâs Colosseum â between 300 to 650 feet (100 to 200 meters) in length â has been detected by an international team of European astronomers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. The object, shown in this artistâs conception, is likely the smallest observed to date by Webb.
The detection was serendipitous â the asteroid was found in calibration images of a different asteroid. The lucky finding suggests Webb can detect many such objects.
Find additional articles, images, and videos at
WebbTelescope.org
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