Asteroid Struck in NASA Mission , Seen Leaving Trail of Debris , Thousands of Miles Long.<br />BBC reports that a new image shows the asteroid <br />struck by NASA's Dart probe leaving behind a trail <br />of debris that stretches for thousands of miles.<br />The remarkable image of <br />the comet-like plume was <br />captured by a telescope in Chile. .<br />After successfully slamming the Dart probe <br />into an asteroid, scientists are now working to <br />establish whether the test was a success and <br />if the space rock's trajectory was altered.<br />The unique image was captured two days <br />after the collision by the Southern <br />Astrological Research Telescope (Soar).<br />It is amazing how clearly we were able <br />to capture the structure and extent of the <br />aftermath in the days following the impact, Teddy Kareta, Astronomer involved in the observation, via BBC.<br />According to Michael Knight of the US Naval Research Laboratory, the trail of debris will be monitored over the coming weeks and months.<br />BBC reports that it will be weeks <br />before scientists can know whether <br />the $325 million mission was a success.<br />We're embarking on a new era of humankind, <br />an era in which we potentially have the <br />capability to protect ourselves from <br />something like a dangerous hazardous <br />asteroid impact. What an amazing thing; <br />we've never had that capability before, Dr Lori Glaze, Director of planetary science at Nasa, via BBC.<br />We're embarking on a new era of humankind, <br />an era in which we potentially have the <br />capability to protect ourselves from <br />something like a dangerous hazardous <br />asteroid impact. What an amazing thing; <br />we've never had that capability before, Dr Lori Glaze, Director of planetary science at Nasa, via BBC.<br />The findings of the mission could be used <br />to protect Earth at some point in the future <br />if an asteroid is threatening the planet.<br />The technique relies upon the mass and speed of a spacecraft "to slightly change the orbit of that object enough so that it would miss the Earth."
