Asteroid nudged by sunlight: Most precise measurement of Yarkovsky effect
Thursday, May 24, 2012 - 17:00
in Astronomy & Space
Scientists on NASA's asteroid sample return mission, Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx), have measured the orbit of their destination asteroid, 1999 RQ36, with such accuracy they were able to directly measure the drift resulting from a subtle but important force called the Yarkovsky effect the slight push created when the asteroid absorbs sunlight and re-emits that energy as heat.