According to reports, NASA has released images of an asteroid that is thought as a contact binary, or the one having two lobes that are stuck to each other. The closest approach of an asteroid to Earth is said to have taken place on July 25, 2015, when the asteroid 1999 JD6 approached nearest to our planet. It was the first asteroid in over 100 years that approached closest to Earth.

NASA scientists have taken grainy images of the peculiar-shaped, asteroid, named as "Space Peanut", which passed by Earth last weekend. As per reports, this asteroid measures 1.2 miles across where NASA discovered it by making use of radio telescopes and obtained its measurements from shape, size and rotation.

According to NASA Jet Propulsion Lab boffin Lance Benner, it has been shown in radar imaging that approximately 15% of near-Earth asteroids that are larger than 600 feet, together with 1999 JD6, have this sort of peanut shape.

In order to learn a little more regarding our Solar System, researchers shifted NASA's Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, California and the National Science Foundation Bank Telescope at the space rock. After that they were able to image its shape.

According to Marshall, a Cornell doctoral student in the field of astronomy, "I'm interested in this particular asteroid because estimates of its size from previous observations - at infrared wavelengths - have not agreed. The radar data will allow us to conclusively resolve the mystery of its size to better understand this interesting little world".