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Bruce Murray Space Image Library

Dawn's first 'rotation characterization' of Vesta, July 4, 2011

Dawn's first 'rotation characterization' of Vesta, July 4, 2011
Dawn's first 'rotation characterization' of Vesta, July 4, 2011 On July 4, 2011, Dawn performed its first "rotation characterization" of Vesta, watching the asteroid rotate underneath it while taking photos through all color filters. Dawn saw all longitudes of the asteroid, so the images could be used to make the first well-resolved color global map of Vesta. NASA / JPL / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA / color animation by Emily Lakdawalla