A NASA spacecraft is currently on an exciting journey to explore some of the most enigmatic asteroids in our solar system. During its voyage, the spacecraft captured remarkable images of an elongated asteroid known as Donaldjohanson. On April 20, Lucy approached within approximately 600 miles of Donaldjohanson, showcasing its impressive capabilities.
The Lucy spacecraft, measuring over 50 feet wide, sped past the asteroid at a staggering speed of 30,000 mph. Utilizing a specialized camera, the spacecraft was able to take a closer look at the five-mile-wide asteroid. The resulting images reveal a uniquely shaped asteroid with a narrow neck connecting its two lobes. Tom Statler, a NASA planetary scientist and program scientist for the mission, expressed excitement about these early images, stating that they highlight Lucy's potential as a powerful engine of discovery.
The upcoming mission holds immense significance as Lucy aims to investigate the Trojan asteroids, two swarms of diverse asteroids that are trapped around the gas giant Jupiter—one leading and the other trailing the planet. These asteroids are of particular interest to planetary scientists because they are believed to be relics from the solar system's formation nearly 4 billion years ago. Since Trojan meteorites likely do not land on Earth due to Jupiter's strong gravitational pull, researchers are eager to learn more about these icy rocks, which could provide crucial insights into the building blocks of planets.
Hal Levison, the planetary scientist leading the Lucy mission, emphasized the importance of understanding these small bodies to comprehend the formation of Earth and other planets. He noted, “If we want to understand ourselves, we have to understand these small bodies.” This mission represents the first reconnaissance of the Trojan swarms, a groundbreaking effort in planetary science.
The recent high-speed flyby of Donaldjohanson serves as Lucy's final dress rehearsal before it reaches its first Trojan asteroid, named Eurybates, in August 2027. To facilitate this investigation, Lucy is equipped with a suite of advanced cameras, including the Lucy Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (L’LORRI), which played a key role in capturing the images of Donaldjohanson.
While it is not uncommon for space objects to be contact binaries—two objects that orbit closely and eventually merge—the team at NASA was surprised by the peculiar shape of Donaldjohanson. The asteroid's narrow neck connecting its two lobes resembles two nested ice cream cones, raising intriguing questions about its formation and structure.
Though Donaldjohanson is not a primary target of the Lucy mission, its unusual shape and features will contribute valuable insights into the origins of primordial space objects, enhancing our understanding of how these celestial bodies formed and, in turn, shedding light on the evolution of our own planet.
