Hayabusa 2

An image from the MASCOT lander as it headed down to the asteroid Ryugu. Note the shadow of the lander to the lower left (this is reversed from the original image to get light source coming from above, so rocks don’t look like pits). Credit: JAXA/DLR/CNES

Another robot lands on Ryugu

By Phil Plait 3 years ago

Very nearly the entire surface the small asteroid Ryugu, taken a few hours apart on June 30, 2018.

Mea Culpa: Circling Ryugu

By Phil Plait 3 years ago

The asteroid Ryugu from 20 kilometers away. Credit: JAXA, University of Tokyo, Kochi University, Rikkyo University, Nagoya University, Chiba Institute of Technology, Meiji University, University of Aizu and AIST

Ryugu, front to back

By Phil Plait 3 years ago

The small (<1 km wide) asteroid Ryugu, seen by the Hayabusa 2spacecraft when they were separated by 40 km. Credit: JAXA

What would it be like to stand on the surface of Ryugu?

By Phil Plait 3 years ago

Artwork of the Hayabusa 2 spacecraft as it approaches the asteroid Ryugu. Credit: JAXA

Asteroid Ryugu starts to come into focus

By Phil Plait 3 years ago