Just such a bow shock was observed with NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE.

In 2011, new data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer revised the date of the collision which created the Baptistina family to about 80 million years ago.

However, new data in 2011 from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer revised the date of the proposed collision which broke-up the parent asteroid to about 80 million years ago.

Wise, the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer launched in 2009, examined more than 500 Near-Earth objects (NEOs), 123 of which were new to science.

Learn about NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer and all the goodies it is expected to uncover in this new, interactive feature.

Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (2009-2011)

Amy Mainzer, a scientist and instrument builder, is deputy project scientist for the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer.

The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer discovers 28 asteroid families through the Jupiter-Mars chief belt.

This shock has been made visible via NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer.

Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer was launched in December 2009 to begin a survey of 99% of the sky at wavelengths of 3.3, 4.7, 12, and 23 μm.