Figure 3.
Rotational light curve
of the largest fragment
of P/2010 A2. Time-
series g0-band
photometry over two
nights (upper panel)
and phase based on
the best-t double-
peaked period of 11.36
hr (lower panel). A sine
curve with a period of
11.36 hr was plotted in
the upper panel (gray
line).
is targeting other clusters, dwarf galaxies,
and individual stars in stellar streams. The pa-
per is published in The Astrophysical Journal.
Korean Astronomers Dissect a
Fragmented Asteroid
In January 2017, the active and fragmented
main belt asteroid P/2010 A2 made its closest
approach to the Earth after its 2010 discov-
ery, when it exhibited a mysterious comet-
like dust trail. Prior to this year’s passage, the
fragments had not yet been characterized,
due to the extremely small size (~ 120 meters
in diameter) and faintness of this object.
According to Kim, a variety of hypotheses
could explain the history of this body, in-
cluding rota