Hubble Spots Mysterious 'Flying X'

The lead investigators thinks it's the result of an asteroid collision
By Nx Doyle,  Newser User
Posted Feb 3, 2010 2:44 PM CST Posted Feb 3, 2010 2:44 PM CST
Promoted on Newser Feb 3, 2010 3:08 PM CST
Hubble Spots Mysterious 'Flying X'
Here's the Hubble image.   (AP)

An object captured on film by the Hubble telescope has astronomers scratching their heads. The body, named P/2010 A2 after it was discovered in early January, shares comet-like traits, but the head is x-shaped and seems to be disconnected from its tail, reports the New York Daily News.

The principal investigator's theory: "Two small and previously unknown asteroids recently collided, creating a shower of debris that is being swept back into a tail from the collision site by the pressure of sunlight." (More Hubble Space Telescope stories.)

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