Two near-Earth asteroids revolving around each other have been found in a mass first discovered last year that was initially thought to be one asteroid.
Astronomers first spotted asteroid 2017 YE5 last December, but not much was known about this space rock until very recently, Calcio News Time noted.
In June 2017 YE5 made its closest approach to Earth for at least the next 170 years, offering astronomers a chance to further observe the asteroid, and they found the first hints that the mass could actually be a rare binary-system.
NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar (GSSR) in California first detected this but scientists were unable to know for sure because of the asteroid's positioning, which made it impossible for them to see if the two distinct lobes they were seeing were separate or joined, NASA said in a statement.
Scientists at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico decided to team up with researchers at the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia to conduct further studies via bi-static radar configuration.
Arecibo Observatory transmitted a radar signal, which was returned to Green Bank, and together the two observatories were able to confirm that 2017 YE5 was in fact two asteroids which revolve around each other once every 20 to 24 hours.
NASA noted that this is only the fourth binary near-Earth asteroid to be observed in which the two bodies are roughly the same size, and not touching.
The two objects orbiting each other measure about 3,000 feet each in size and are likely as dark as charcoal as they do not reflect much sunlight.
Scientists said the discovery provides an important opportunity to improve understanding of different types of binaries.
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