This Unusual Asteroid Has Rings

Here, astronomers at ESO have two theories.  One is that they are remnants of a collision and the other is that they may be a precursor:

The origin of these rings remains a mystery, but they may be the result of a collision that created a disc of debris.

The rings may prove to be a phenomenon that might in turn later lead to the formation of a small moon. Such a sequence of events, on a much larger scale, may explain the birth of our own Moon in the early days of the Solar System, as well as the origin of many other satellites around planets and asteroids.

What do you think?  Were these the result of a collision or perhaps something more mysterious?

Feel free to comment with your ideas.



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