This is a group of photographs taken of Eros by the NEAR spacecraft during its approach.
Click on image for full size
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland.

Related links:

NEAR mission home page

Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous

The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) is the first to ever orbit an asteroid. It was launched in 1996. NEAR started to orbit Eros on February 14, 2000.

The goals of the mission are to learn as much about asteroids as possible. Instruments on the probe will analyze the makeup of Eros, take pictures of it, and look for a magnetic field.

Eros is one of the largest asteroids near Earth. It was discovered in 1898.

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