(6478) Gault, the tailed asteroid: a new image – 7 Feb. 2019
We observed (6478) Gault again, the asteroid now showing a narrow, dusty tail. We see that not only the tail is still there, but we confirm a second, short structure recently reported, pointing to a slightly different position angle. Surely we will observe it again, as soon as the weather will make it possible.
(6478) Gault: 7 Feb. 2019
The image above comes from the average of 16, 300-seconds exposures, unfiltered, remotely collected with the (PlaneWave 17″+Paramount ME+SBIG STL-6303E) robotic unit available at the Virtual Telescope Project. The image scale is 1.2″/pixel.
Measuring the old tail, we have found that here it has a length of 5 arc-minutes, points to PA= 295 deg and is slightly curved: it is significantly longer than on 11/12 Jan. Furthermore, there is a short, new tail, about 30 arc-seconds long and pointing to PA= 305 deg.
We will monitor how this will evolve.
Support The Virtual Telescope Project!
Support us! Please, donate and celebrate the ARTEMIS II mission with an EXCLUSIVE and STUNNING digital hi-res image of the largest Supermoon of 2025 to download and frame on your wall and many more pictures, specifically made for supporters like you!
