Asteroid NASA Smashed a Spacecraft Into Grew Two "Unexpected" Tails

Astronomers were surprised that the space rock formed two comet tails a week after impact.

The second tail from the impact with Didymos was spotted by the Hubble Space Telescope, according to NASA.

Dust and gas are ejected by comets as they scream through the Solar System.

Didymos formed a tail after NASA's spaceship hit it. The tail has a strange twin.

NASA said that the twin tail is an unexpected development, although similar behavior is common in comets and asteroids.

New observations from Hubble of the Dimorphos impact by NASA’s DART spacecraft has revealed the clearest image of a stunning development to the asteroid system—a second tail of ejecta.

This has both surprised and puzzled astronomers: https://t.co/D5xRRGnxAy pic.twitter.com/1RpnoxsZUt

— Hubble Space Telescope (@HubbleTelescope) October 20, 2022

Uncanny

NASA has some great images of the post-DART double tail, but its scientists still don't know what's happening.

The Investigation Team is currently working to understand the relationship between the comet-like tail and other features seen in images from Hubble and other telescopes.

NASA said that the second tail is new and that there are a number of possible scenarios the team will investigate.

This stunning view of the aftermath shows how little we know about asteroids, comets, and their tails.

NASA just shot tiny bullets at its craft.