The asteroid, with a diameter of about four kilometers, appears to be a carbon-rich asteroid. About 150 million years ago, it was likely to have been eliminated by a larger parent. It spins every 251 hours and lights up regularly every 10 days of dimness. This indicates that the asteroid has an elongated shape.
According to Forbes’ Report, Flyby is part of Lucy’s 12-year mission to explore 11 different asteroids, including eight Jupiter Trojans. These primitive objects are considered to be remnants of the early solar system.
Lucy avoids his instruments
In a brief but critical encounter, Lucy reportedly stopped the asteroid for 40 seconds before its closest approach to protecting its sensitive instrument from intense sunlight. Nevertheless, the spacecraft successfully reestablished its contact with the earth soon after. According to a Forbes report, NASA confirmed Lucy was in good health.
The spacecraft is now transmitting the collected data to Earth. This process is expected to take about a week. According to the report, Flyby is an important test before the more complex encounter with Jupiter Troitsu asteroid.
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Warm-up goals prove fascinating
According to media reports, this is Lucy’s second asteroid encounter since its launch on October 16, 2021. In November 2023, it imaged its first asteroid target, Dinkinesh, and discovered a surprise – a small satellite asteroid spinning it, later known as Selam. He is further quoted that it provides “unexpected” knowledge through these early encounters even before Lucy reaches his main goal.
What’s next for Lucy?
Lucy will perform multiple gravity assisted flights of the Earth in six orbits around it. The next major encounter is reportedly reported to involve the asteroid eurybates and its moon Queta, then the 2033 Trojan Flybys on August 12, 2027, and then further Trojan Flybys.
Although Lucy will pass through Earth in orbit many times, it will never return to Earth. It will last for millions of years in Trojan horses and Earth orbit.
According to reports, Lucy comes with a time capsule that includes notes from scientific and cultural idols such as Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., Carl Sagan and The Beatsles.
Lucy Spacecraft: Background
Lucy is named after the discovery of fossil human skeletons discovered in Ethiopia in 1974. The asteroid Canteroid Donaldjohanson is named in honor of Dr. Donald Johanson, a paleoanthropologist who discovered Lucy Possil. NASA hopes the investigation will gain insight into the development of the solar system, just as the first Lucy provided important information about the origins of humanity.
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FAQ
- What is the meaning of the asteroid Donaldjohanson?
Donaldjohanson is a carbonaceous asteroid that may have been dispersed from larger bodies 150 million years ago. This is the test target before Lucy’s main mission to investigate the Trojan asteroids. - When will Lucy go to Jupiter Troy asteroid?
Lucy meets Virgo on the Jupiter Trojan Gachoids in August 2027, starting with Eurybates and its moon Queta.
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