Astronomy Picture of the Day · February 6, 2001

Touchdown Site on Asteroid Eros

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for February 6, 2001 is “Touchdown Site on Asteroid Eros,” an image. It is credited to Credit: NEAR Project , JHU APL , NASA. The original explanation runs about 112 words.

From the explanation

“The first controlled descent of a spacecraft onto an asteroid is scheduled to occur next week. The robot spacecraft NEAR-Shoemaker has been orbiting asteroid Eros for nearly one year On February 12, before maneuvering fuel wanes, NASA will command the craft to descend right down onto the surface .”

— APOD editors, February 6, 2001

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date: February 6, 2001
Type: Image
Credit: Credit: NEAR Project , JHU APL , NASA
Copyright: No copyright notice on the entry. Check the credited institution’s own usage rules before reusing it.
Explanation length: About 112 words

All of February 2001 → · 2001 by month → · Full archive since 1995 →

Topics in this entry

Asteroids

Topics are matched from words in the title and explanation.

On this day: February 6 in other years

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Source

Astronomy Picture of the Day, February 6, 2001 — science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2001-february-6-touchdown-site-on-asteroid-eros

Copy taken Oct 28, 2026, 2:39 AM EDT. The image and explanation belong to their creators. OpenOrbit is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA.