E-Type Asteroid (2867) Steins as Imaged by OSIRIS on Board Rosetta

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1179559
• Publication Date: 2010-01-07T19:43:47Z
• Authors: H. U. Keller; C. Barbieri; D. Koschny; P. Lamy; H. Rickman; R. Rodrigo; H. Sierks; M. F. A’Hearn; F. Angrilli; M. A. Barucci; J.-L. Bertaux; G. Cremonese; V. Da Deppo; B. Davidsson; M. De Cecco; S. Debei; S. Fornasier; M. Fulle; O. Groussin; P. J. Gutierrez; S. F. Hviid; W.-H. Ip; L. Jorda; J. Knollenberg; J. R. Kramm; E. Kührt; M. Küppers; L.-M. Lara; M. Lazzarin; J. Lopez Moreno; F. Marzari; H. Michalik; G. Naletto; L. Sabau; N. Thomas; K.-P. Wenzel; I. Bertini; S. Besse; F. Ferri; M. Kaasalainen; S. Lowry; S. Marchi; S. Mottola; W. Sabolo; S. E. Schröder; S. Spjuth; P. Vernazza
• Keywords: Osiris; Rubble; Oblate spheroid

The European Space Agency's Rosetta mission encountered the main-belt asteroid (2867) Steins while on its way to rendezvous with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Images taken OSIRIS (optical, spectroscopic, and infrared remote( )imaging system) cameras board show that is an oblate body effective spherical diameter of 5.3 kilometers. Its surface does not color variations. morphology dominated by linear faults a large 2.1-kilometer-diameter crater near south pole. Crater counts reveal distinct lack small craters. solid rock but rubble pile has conical appearance probably result reshaping due Yarkovsky-O'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack (YORP) spin-up. images constitute direct evidence for YORP effect asteroid.