NASA's Lucy Spacecraft Captures Initial Image of Approaching Asteroid Destination
The Lucy spacecraft recently had its first good gander at main belt asteroid Donaldjohanson, preparing to explore Trojan asteroids as far out as Jupiter. While not a Trojan asteroid itself, Donaldjohanson's convenient location makes it an ideal stopping point for Lucy before diving into its primary objectives.
This petite main belt asteroid, measuring approximately 3 miles (4 kilometers) in diameter, is named after the renowned anthropologist who discovered the fossilized hominid Lucy in 1974. The latest images from NASA show Donaldjohanson as a mere speck of light, captured by Lucy's LOng Range Reconnaissance Imager (L'LORRI).
As Lucy races towards Donaldjohanson, it'll close the 45 million mile (70 million kilometers) gap by April 20, 2025, when it's anticipated to perform a close flyby, passing a mere 596 miles (960 kilometers) from the asteroid.
The asteroid is considered debris from a massive collision around 130 million years ago, which created the Erigone family of asteroids according to the Lucy mission site. While not the main event, the asteroid piques interest in its own right, offering insights into early solar system formation and evolution.
Though the composition of Donaldjohanson isn't universally known, it's generally recognized as a carbonaceous asteroid. Carbonaceous asteroids, rich in carbon-based materials, are believed to carry organic compounds and water, potentially playing a role in delivering such substances to Earth.
Lucy will continue to gather data on Donaldjohanson over the following two months, in anticipation of the April 20 flyby. The asteroid will remain an unresolved faint smudge in Lucy's sight until the flyby.
Among Lucy's primary objectives is the Eurybates flyby on August 12, 2027. This larger asteroid, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) across, will offer insights into why Trojan asteroids tend to congregate in front of Jupiter and why they possess distinct compositions. The flyby will also allow Lucy to spot the diminutive Eurybates' satellite, Queta.
In the coming years, Lucy will make flybys of a host of Trojans, culminating in its final encounter with Patroclus and Menoetius in 2033. Post this, Lucy will settle into a stable orbit and continue exploring the Trojans for an extended period.
Carbonaceous asteroids like Donaldjohanson, rich in carbon-based materials, are thought to preserve remnants from the early solar system formation. They are often found in the outer asteroid belt and could provide clues about the solar system's early chemistry and the prospect of life elsewhere.
- The exploration of Trojan asteroids by Lucy spacecraft includes queuing up visits to carbonaceous asteroids like Donaldjohanson, which are believed to preserve remnants from the early solar system formation.
- The asteroid Donaldjohanson, named after the anthropologist who discovered the hominid Lucy, is a main belt asteroid that offers insights into early solar system formation and evolution.
- The future of space science and technology is exciting with missions like Lucy, which is set to explore Trojan asteroids, potentially shedding light on the delivery of organic compounds and water to Earth from asteroids like Donaldjohanson.
- Research on asteroids like Donaldjohanson, which is considered a speck of light in Lucy's sight during its approach, can provide crucial data about space debris and its role in the formation of the solar system.
