Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

Takeshi Inoue, the head curator at the Akashi Municipal Planetarium, looks to view the Hayabusa2 space probe through a telescope in the western Japan city of Akashi on Dec. 3, 2015. The probe made its closest approach to the Earth to perform a swingby to set it on course for its target asteroid 300 million kilometers, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

Kazuya Ayani, head of the Bisei Astronomical Observatory in Japan's Okayama Prefecture, points at the moving light of the country's Hayabusa2 space probe captured by the observatory on Dec. 3, 2015. The probe made its closest approach to the Earth the same day to perform a swingby to set it on course for its target asteroid 300 million kilometers away, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

Makoto Yoshikawa, associate professor of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, speaks to reporters in Sagamihara, southwest of Tokyo, on Dec. 3, 2015, after the Hayabusa2 space probe completed a swingby to set it on course for its target asteroid 300 million kilometers away. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

Takeshi Inoue, the head curator at the Akashi Municipal Planetarium, looks to view the Hayabusa2 space probe through a telescope in the western Japan city of Akashi on Dec. 3, 2015. The probe made its closest approach to the Earth to perform a swingby to set it on course for its target asteroid 300 million kilometers, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

People attempt to take pictures of Japan's Hayabusa2 space probe from Kawasaki Municipal Science Museum, near Tokyo, on Dec. 3, 2015. The probe made its closest approach to the Earth to perform a swingby to set it on course for its target asteroid 300 million kilometers from Earth, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

Makoto Yoshikawa, associate professor of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, answers questions from reporters in Sagamihara, southwest of Tokyo, on Dec. 3, 2015, before the Hayabusa2 space probe's approach to Earth for a swingby to set it on course for its target asteroid 300 million kilometers away. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

Photo taken Dec. 3, 2015, from a video monitor shows Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency staff in Sagamihara, southwest of Tokyo, looking at the Hayabusa2 space probe's approach to Earth for a swingby to set it on course for its target asteroid 300 million kilometers away. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

Hayabusa2 probe approaches Earth for swingby on way to asteroid

People attempt to take pictures of Japan's Hayabusa2 space probe from Kawasaki Municipal Science Museum, near Tokyo, on Dec. 3, 2015. The probe made its closest approach to the Earth to perform a swingby to set it on course for its target asteroid 300 million kilometers from Earth, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo