NASA’s Lucy Mission is actively examining images obtained during its encounter with the carbonaceous asteroid Donald Johansson on April 20, 2025.
Donald Johanson is located on NASA’s Lucy spacecraft, approximately 2,700 km (1,700 miles) away, about 3.2 minutes before closest approach on April 20, 2025. The lighting conditions, which are primarily behind Lucy, significantly diminish the visibility of topographic features. Image credit: NASA/GODDARD/SWRI/JOHNS HOPKINS APL.
Donald Johansson resides in the inner region of the solar system’s major asteroid belt.
The asteroid was initially discovered on March 2, 1981, by American astronomer Sheltebus at the Siding Spring Observatory.
On April 20, 2025, NASA’s Lucy spacecraft executed a flyby near Donald Johansson, approaching within 960 km (600 miles) of its surface.
This encounter confirmed that the asteroid is an elongated contact binary, a structure that forms when two small celestial bodies collide.
Nonetheless, members of the Lucy team were taken aback by the unusual shape of the narrow neck connecting the two lobes.
A pair of stereo images combining the final full approach image (right) with slightly clipped images taken 72 seconds later. For a three-dimensional view of the asteroid’s structure, cross your eyes while focusing on the image. Image credits: NASA/GODDARD/SWRI/JOHNS HOPKINS APL/BRIAN MAY/CLAUDIA MANZONI.
“The newly released image was captured by the L’Lorri Imager on the spacecraft just minutes before the closest approach,” the researchers stated.
“This successful dress rehearsal assures the team that both the spacecraft and our crew are well-prepared for the main event: an encounter with a Jupiter Trojan asteroid.”
“Currently, the spacecraft is in a relatively quiet cruising phase as it journeys through the main asteroid belt.”
“Lucy is traveling at over 50,000 km/h (30,000 mph) away from the Sun.”
“We will continue to monitor the spacecraft as it heads toward the cooler, dimmer regions of the solar system.”
“Upon reaching the Trojan asteroid, the mission plans to conduct four encounters and observe at least six asteroids (including two satellites discovered by our team) over the course of 15 months.”
“The first encounter is scheduled with the asteroid Euribates in August 2027.”
Source: www.sci.news
