The binary asteroid 288P (artist's impression)
Date: 20 September 2017
Satellite: Hubble Space Telescope
Copyright: ESA/Hubble, L. Calçada, CC BY 4.0
This artist's impression shows the binary asteroid 288P, located in the main asteroid belt between the planets Mars and Jupiter. The object is unique as it is a binary asteroid which also behaves like a comet. The comet-like properties are the result of water sublimation, caused by the heat of the Sun. The orbit of the asteroids is marked by a blue ellipse.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 
Last Update: 1 September 2019
