Scheila imaged with Hubble Space Telescope, Dec. 27, 2010

(596) Scheila imaged with the Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 camera on Dec. 27, 2010. The asteroid is marked "N." The crosses emanating from N are diffraction spike artifacts of the Space Telescope. Diffuse regions "A" and "B" show dust grains that have been ejected from Scheila and are being swept back by radiation pressure from the sun. The direction opposite to the sun is marked "AS" (antisolar). The projected orbit is marked "O." "C" marks a thin tail that may be caused by substantially larger particles.


Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center