* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Asteroid (951) Gaspra

Blobrana · L

Asteroid (951) Gaspra makes its closest approach to the Earth (1.289 AU) on the 26th January, 2013

Blobrana · L

Anniversary of the Galileo Asteroid Gaspra Flyby in 1991

On October 29, 1991, two months after entering the asteroid belt, Galileo performed the first ever asteroid encounter by passing about 1,600 kilometres from 951 Gaspra at a relative speed of about 8 kilometres per second. Several pictures of Gaspra were taken along with measurements using the NIMS instrument to indicate composition and physical properties. The last (and best) two images were played back to Earth in November 1991 and June 1992.
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Blobrana · L

Asteroid (951) Gaspra is an S-type asteroid that orbits very close to the inner edge of the main asteroid belt. Gaspra was the first asteroid ever to be closely approached when it was visited by the Galileo spacecraft, which flew by on its way to Jupiter on 29 October 1991.
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