Radar images of asteroid 4179 Toutatis from the 2012 close approach

Filed under pretty pictures, global views, Deep Space Network, radar imaging, asteroids, near-Earth asteroids, radio telescopes, astronomy

Go Back

Asteroid 4179 Toutatis will approach within 7 million kilometers of Earth on December 12, and the Goldstone and Arecibo radio telescopes will be watching. This is the best image released so far, taken on December 3.

JPL / Courtesy Lance Benner

Visit the JPL asteroid radar astronomy website for more information about this approach: http://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroids/Toutatis2012/Toutatis2012_planning.html