The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured a “never before seen” break-up of an asteroid which has separated into as many as ten smaller pieces, according to NASA.

A series of images shows the asteroid known as P/2013 R3 breaking apart, as viewed by the Hubble Space Telescope from 2013 to 2014:

This is the first time that such a body has been seen to undergo this kind of break-up.

NASA, ESA, and D. Jewitt (UCLA) / Via sci.esa.int

Put into motion, the breakup sequence was amazing.

HubbleESA / Via youtube.com

Video shows the complete Hubble Space Telescope observations of the asteroid over a two month period:

HubbleESA / Via youtube.com