Click above to see the full resolution image
This is quite different from the smooth dust envelopes of normal comets. The filaments are made of dust and gravel, presumably recently thrown out of the nucleus. Some are swept back by radiation pressure from sunlight to create straight dust streaks. Embedded in the filaments are co-moving blobs of dust that likely originated from tiny unseen parent bodies.
OK, David, we will believe you until Jerry Bruckheimer finish his next movie, in which a “comet” suddenly stops, turns to Earth, and starts firing anti-matter rays against our underpants.
The weirdest thing, however, is not only the prettyful X-shaped debris pattern, but the fact that its 140m-wide nucleus is outside the dust halo and separated from the trail. This behaviour is something which has never been seen before in a comet or any other solar-system-swooshing object.
The images – taken by Hubble between January 25 and January 29 – lead NASA to believe that this is a product of the collision of two asteroids. The nucleus would be the “surviving remnant of a hypervelocity collision:
“If this interpretation is correct, two small and previously unknown asteroids recently collided, creating a shower of debris that is being swept back into a tail from the collision site by the pressure of sunlight. The filamentary appearance of P/2010 A2 is different from anything seen in Hubble images of normal comets, consistent with the action of a different process.
In other words: They have no clue about what this is, and they are still speculating about how this object was formed. Maybe it’s time to call Dr Zarkov. [NASA]
Chewie
February 3, 2010 at 10:49 AM
Any fool can see it’s an X-wing.
Report Permalinkicurafu
February 3, 2010 at 11:40 AM
At this speed, it will take 61 years to travel from Earth to the nearest star.
Report PermalinkHa
February 3, 2010 at 9:31 PM
Nearest star not including the sun. It’d take 360 days to get from Earth to the sun at this speed.
Report PermalinkJames
February 3, 2010 at 4:22 PM
I’m stocking up on canned food!
Report Permalinkzaphodity
February 5, 2010 at 2:11 AM
Ok were screwed it’s the SILVER SURFER !
Report PermalinkLes
February 8, 2010 at 9:43 PM
I never expected aliens to be giant flying starfish hold torches but……hey why not.
Report PermalinkIlt
September 21, 2010 at 10:07 PM
Its a dramiel, from eve online. We’re ****ed.
Report PermalinkPurps
September 22, 2010 at 10:32 AM
Its not a Dramiel.. Too flat.. Clearly a Daredevil / firetail.
Report PermalinkAltheus
September 23, 2010 at 2:31 AM
It’s obviously a daredevil as it shoots antimatter rays….
“in which a “comet” suddenly stops, turns to Earth, and starts firing anti-matter rays against our underpants.”
Report PermalinkNick
September 30, 2010 at 5:18 PM
Omg watch out it’s Clay Matthews!!!!
Report Permalinkwangbenbo
October 2, 2010 at 5:26 AM
oh come on ,It’s a ship of EVE online.the ship’s name is Dramiel,you can find it use google.
Report PermalinkJack
November 3, 2010 at 1:32 PM
can someone PLEASE slap the author?
“jesus diaz” youre an idiot, please get a life!
dont waste our time with your boring made up stories.
by the way its the 21ST CENTURY! using words like “spaceship-shaped” or “mysterious object” are out of fashion.
please stay on the floor and use facts instead of personal statements to spice up a boring article.
if you’re unable to use common sense, please leave. No one is interested in your childish imagination.
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