Contact binary (asteroid)

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In the study of asteroids, a contact binary is caused when two asteroids gravitate toward each other until they touch, forming an oddly-shaped single body. Asteroids suspected of being contact binaries include the unusually elongated 624 Hektor and the bilobated 216 Kleopatra and 4769 Castalia. 25143 Itokawa, recently photographed by the Hayabusa probe, also appears to be a contact binary which has resulted in an elongated, bent body.