What is Toutatis made of?

Toutatis is not a monolith, but most likely a coalescence of shattered fragments. This bifurcated asteroid is shown to be mainly consisting of a head (small lobe) and a body (large lobe). The two major parts are not round in shape, and their surfaces have a number of large facets.

Is Toutatis a threat to Earth?

Toutatis never posed a threat to Earth on its recent flyby, and researchers say there is no chance it will hit our planet over the next four centuries or so. (Beyond that time, the asteroid’s orbit cannot be accurately computed.)

Why is Toutatis such an interesting object?

Toutatis is one of the strangest objects in the solar system, with a highly irregular shape and an extraordinarily complex “tumbling” rotation. Both its shape and rotation are thought to be the outcome of a history of violent collisions.

Does Toutatis orbit the sun?

1,471 days4179 Toutatis / Orbital period

How big is Toutatis?

0.76118 mi4179 Toutatis / Radius

How big was the Toutatis asteroid?

Who is Toutatis?

Toutatis or Teutates is a Celtic god who was worshipped in ancient Gaul and Britain. On the basis of his name’s etymology, he has been widely interpreted to be a tribal protector.

What is the science definition of meteoroid?

Meteoroids are objects in space that range in size from dust grains to small asteroids. Think of them as “space rocks.” When meteoroids enter Earth’s atmosphere (or that of another planet, like Mars) at high speed and burn up, the fireballs or “shooting stars” are called meteors.

Who was ESUS?

Esus, (Celtic: “Lord,” or “Master”), powerful Celtic deity, one of three mentioned by the Roman poet Lucan in the 1st century ad; the other two were Taranis (“Thunderer”) and Teutates (“God of the People”). Esus’ victims, according to later commentators, were sacrificed by being ritually stabbed and hung from trees.