[meteorite-list] Where's the other one?

From: Meteorites USA <eric_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:53:55 -0800
Message-ID: <4B574333.4090205_at_meteoritesusa.com>

Hi Listees,

We've all read the articles and seen the photos of P/2010 A2 (the
"asteroid" impact) Possibly the first ever witnessed and photographed
asteroid collision in the asteroid belt.

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/82074747.html
http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/mpec/K10/K10A32.html
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18415-trail-of-dust-may-point-to-fresh-violence-in-asteroid-belt.html
http://www.astroengine.com/?p=7086

I have a few questions...

If the 110,000 mile long trail of debris is the result of two asteroid
colliding, where is the other one? Shouldn't there be two trials of
debris visible? Wouldn't each asteroid have it's own debris trail? Or is
the trial we are seeing in fact from both because they are not far
enough away from each other yet to make two distinct trails?

Regards,
Eric Wichman
Meteorites USA
Received on Wed 20 Jan 2010 12:53:55 PM PST