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Hubble Reveals Huge Crater on the Surface of the Asteroid Vesta

Hubble Reveals Huge Crater on the Surface of the Asteroid Vesta

[left] A NASA Hubble Space Telescope image of the asteroid Vesta, taken in May 1996 when the asteroid was 110 million miles from Earth. The asymmetry of the asteroid and "nub" and the south pole is suggestive that it suffered a large impact event. The image was digitally restored to yield an effective scale of six miles per pixel (picture element).

[center] A color-encoded elevation map of Vesta clearly shows the giant 285- mile diameter impact basin and "bull's-eye" central peak. The map was constructed from 78 Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 pictures. Surface topography was estimated by noting irregularities along the limb and at the terminator (day/night boundary) where shadows are enhanced by the low Sun angle.

[right] A 3-D computer model of the asteroid Vesta synthesized from Hubble topographic data. The crater's 8-mile high central peak can clearly be seen near the pole. The surface texture on the model is artificial, and is not representative of the true brightness variations on the asteroid. Elevation features have not been exaggerated.

  • Object Name
    Object NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
    Vesta
  • Release Date
    September 4, 1997
  • Science Release
    Hubble Reveals Huge Crater on the Surface of the Asteroid Vesta
    Read the release
  • Credit
    Ben Zellner (Georgia Southern University), Peter Thomas (Cornell University) and NASA

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Related Images & Videos

Topographic Map of Vesta's Surface

Topographic Map of Vesta's Surface

This topographic map of Vesta's surface, based on Hubble Space Telescope observations, is color coded to reveal altitude variations above a mean surface level. The southern pole is dominated by a depression (blue) which is a large impact feature.

Topographic Map of Vesta's Surface Modeled onto Elliptical Shape

Topographic Map of Vesta's Surface Modeled onto Elliptical Shape

A false-color topographic map, projected onto a model having Vesta's elliptical shape. A circular impact crater, with central peak, clearly dominates the southern hemisphere. The model has bee rotated at 90 degree intervals. The map is based on photo-analysis of Hubble Space...

Vesta

Vesta

A NASA Hubble Space Telescope image of the asteroid Vesta, taken in May 1996 when the asteroid was 110 million miles from Earth. The asymmetry of the asteroid and "nub" and the south pole is suggestive that it suffered a large impact event. The image was digitally restored to...

Color-encoded Elevation Map of Vesta

Color-encoded Elevation Map of Vesta

A color-encoded elevation map of Vesta clearly shows the giant 285- mile diameter impact basin and "bull's-eye" central peak. The map was constructed from 78 Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 pictures. Surface topography was estimated by noting irregularities along the limb and at...

Computer Model of the Asteroid Vesta

Computer Model of the Asteroid Vesta

A 3-D computer model of the asteroid Vesta synthesized from Hubble topographic data. The crater's 8-mile high central peak can clearly be seen near the pole. The surface texture on the model is artificial, and is not representative of the true brightness variations on the...

Computer Model of the Asteroid Vesta

Animation of rotating 3-D Vesta model

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Last Updated
Mar 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

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