While
NEAR Shoemaker did not directly measure gravity on Eros' surface, the spacecraft
gathered other data that allow scientists to infer this measurement. Radio
tracking was analyzed to determine the asteroid's gravitational "pull"
on the orbiting spacecraft. The many images of the asteroid, plus range
measurements from the laser altimeter, measured the body's shape. Comparisons
of the shape with the gravitational pull felt by the spacecraft from different
parts of its orbit showed that the density of the interior to be nearly
uniform. |
 |
The
asteroid's shape, density and spin combine to create a bizarre pattern of
what is "uphill" and "downhill." In this view, a map
of "gravitational topography" has been painted onto a shape model.
Red areas are "uphill" and blue areas are "downhill."
A ball dropped onto one of the red spots would try to roll across the nearest
green area to the nearest blue area. |
|