LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Eros: Asteroids
built 177 days ago
![[NEAR encounter image of asteroid Eros]](http://retrieverimages.lycos.com/images/e/r/o/eros/i/032.gif)
On February 12, two days before NEAR's insertion into orbit around Eros, during a five-hour time span the spacecraft's Multispectral Imager recorded these pictures of the asteroid spinning on its axis. This view, looking down toward the rocky body's north pole, is generally similar to sequences taken on February 6, 10, and 11. But the spacecraft was much closer to Eros (about 1,800 kilometers or a little over 1,100 miles), so the pictures are much sharper.
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It has been calculated that the diameter of a synchronous orbit around the length of 433 Eros is almost the same as Eros' 33 kilometer length. This results in near-zero gravity at the tips of 433 Eros, and creates an interesting "gravity gradient" on the entire planetoid. Calculations by OrbDev's advisors show that an erosync orbit is attained at 16.36 kilometers from the center of mass or 32.72 km in diameter. This coincidence is an interesting anomaly and may explain why 433 Eros is one of the most elongated asteroid known and may give clues to the underlying structure and history of Eros.
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![[NEAR image of asteroid Eros]](http://retrieverimages.lycos.com/images/e/r/o/eros/i/034.gif)
This mosaic of four images -- taken by NEAR Shoemaker on September 21, 2000, from about 100 kilometers (62 miles) above Eros -- covers part of the asteroid's southern hemisphere, southwest of the large, 5.3-kilometer (3.3-mile) diameter crater. The ridge that trends from upper left to lower right is among the older features on Eros, as evidenced by the large number of superimposed impact craters. The whole scene is approximately 11 kilometers (7 miles) from top to bottom.
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Stereo imaging will be an important tool on NEAR for geologic analysis of Eros, because it provides three-dimensional information on the asteroid's landforms and structures. This anaglyph can be viewed using red-blue glasses to show Eros in stereo. It was constructed from images taken on February 14 and 15 that showed the same part of Eros from two slightly different viewing perspectives. The smallest feature visible is 100 feet (30 meters) across. (Courtesy of NASA/JHU-APL)
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![[NEAR image of asteroid Eros]](http://retrieverimages.lycos.com/images/e/r/o/eros/i/036.gif)
This view is a mosaic of three images of Eros taken by NEAR Shoemaker on August 19, 2000, when the spacecraft was orbiting at about 50 kilometers (31 miles) above the asteroid. This mosaic captures a spectacular view of the surface at the time of local sunset. The rounded shape of the low hills at left results from eons of impact cratering chipping away at them and the formation of regolith blanketing them. The whole scene is approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) across.
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