Scientists from Pulkovo observatory monitored behaviour of an asteroid, which passed near Earth as close as 320 thousand kilometers.
Such objects require special attention of astronomers, because mentioned distance is less than the distance between the Earth and the Moon. New asteroid was discovered by young observatory research fellow Iraida Vereshagina by means of an astrograph – a telescope for making photographs of celestial objects.
It took scientists 240 seconds to take over 100 photographs, which recorded quick oscillations of asteroid’s luminosity. Due to unusual oscillation frequency – 3 per second, compare with normal rate of several oscillations per hour – allowed to name asteroid “Tumbling”.
Source: Svoboda News
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Tumbling Asteroid
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