NASA's Swift Satellite Captures Asteroid 2005 YU55 Flyby

[tabatha]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/6333653934/in/contacts/

Asteroid 2005 YU55 whisks through the field of view of Swift's Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope (UVOT) on Nov. 9, 2011, just hours after the space rock made its closest approach to Earth. The video plays on a background image from the Digital Sky Survey that shows the same region, which lies within the Great Square asterism of the constellation Pegasus (times UT).

Credit: NASA/Swift/Stefan Immler and DSS

NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

[Gore1FL]

1. That was cool! Thanks! n/t

[NBachers]

2. I like the NASA graphics even better than the flyby- it makes me feel like I'm SpaceAge!