Asteroid nudged by sunlight: Most precise measurement of Yarkovsky effect
Thursday, May 24, 2012 - 22:30
in Astronomy & Space
Scientists on NASA's asteroid sample return mission 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.