NASA’s Lucy Probe Discovers Twin Satellites Orbiting Asteroid Dinkinesi
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NASA’s asteroid probe Lucy, on a mission to explore the ‘Jupiter Trojan asteroids’ orbiting around Jupiter, has captured a groundbreaking discovery. The spacecraft, in collaboration with the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), has confirmed the presence of two moons orbiting the asteroid Dinkinesi.
Upon analyzing images taken by Lucy as it passed by asteroid Dinkinesi, NASA and SwRI revealed that the asteroid is accompanied by two satellite-like objects of similar size. The first image, taken at a distance of 435 km from Dinkinesi, showed a 220m satellite positioned behind the 790m-sized asteroid. Subsequent images, taken just 6 minutes apart, provided further clarity on the unique satellite system orbiting Dinkinesi.
Dr. John Spencer, deputy director of the Lucy project at SwRI, expressed astonishment at the discovery, stating, “As we approached Dinkenesi, we saw strange changes in brightness and got a hint that there might be a moon. But we had no idea that this asteroid system would look so strange.”
The unexpected nature of the discovery was further emphasized by Dr. Hal Levison, leader of the Lucy project at SwRI, who remarked, “I never expected a system to look like this. I don’t understand why the two satellites are similar in size. It will be interesting to find out.”
The Lucy probe, launched on October 16, 2021, aims to explore the ‘Trojan Asteroids’, a group of asteroids around Jupiter that have never been previously studied. After its encounter with Dinkinesi, Lucy is slated to fly close to Earth in December 2024 for a gravity-assist maneuver before venturing on to explore the ‘Donald Johansson’ asteroid in the asteroid belt in 2025. The probe is expected to reach the Trojan asteroids orbiting Jupiter in August 2027.
This monumental discovery marks the first of many anticipated findings from the Lucy mission, shedding new light on the mysteries of our solar system’s distant celestial objects.
Twin satellites confirmed by taking pictures every 6 minutes… Exploring asteroids around Jupiter in 2027
NASA’s asteroid probe Lucy, flying to explore the ‘Jupiter Trojan asteroids’, a group of asteroids around Jupiter, is attracting attention by capturing a unique asteroid with two moons.
NASA and the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), which is responsible for the Lucy project, analyzed images taken by Lucy as it passed by asteroid Dinkinesi on the 7th (local time) and found that the asteroid’s satellite is shaped like two rocks of similar size. close to each other. It was revealed that.
The research team released the first image of asteroid Dikinesi taken by Lucy on the 1st on the 4th, followed by the second image taken 6 minutes after the first image was taken on the same day.
The first image was taken 435 km away from Dinkinesi by Lucy, which is currently flying 480 million km away from Earth, and shows a 220m satellite rising like the moon behind the Dinkinesi size 790m.
Dr said. John Spencer of SwRI, deputy director of the Lucy project, “As we approached Dinkenesi, we saw strange changes in brightness and got a hint that there might be a moon. But we had no idea that this asteroid system would look so strange.”
The second photo was taken after Lucy passed the closest point of Dinkinesi and flew another 1,500 km for 6 minutes, 1,630 km away from Dinkinesi.
NASA’s Lucy probe (white circle) flew along the red line and made contact with asteroid Dinkinesi at point A, 435 km away from asteroid Dinkinesi, and point B, 1,630 km away, at 12:55 pm (Eastern time United States) on the 1st It was photographed by an orbiting satellite. The distance between the two points is about 1,500 km, and the difference in shooting time is 6 minutes. [Overall graphic, NASA/Goddard/SwRI; Inset “A,” NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL/NOIRLab; Inset “B,” NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL 제공. 재판매 및 DB 금지]
This photo shows the 220m-sized satellites orbiting the Dinkinesi asteroid so close together that they actually look like two objects of the same size stuck together.
SwRI’s Dr Hal Levison, leader of the Lucy project, said: “I never expected a system to look like this. I don’t understand why the two satellites are similar in size. It will be interesting to find out. “It’s He said.
The main goal of the probe Lucy is to investigate the ‘Trojan Asteroids’, a group of asteroids around Jupiter that have never been explored. It was launched on October 16, 2021, and is expected to explore the Trojan asteroids orbiting Jupiter from August 2027.
Dinkinesi and its moon were the first asteroids explored by Lucy. Lucy is expected to fly close to Earth in December 2024 to be propelled with the help of Earth’s gravity, and will go to Jupiter after exploring the ‘Donald Johansson’ asteroid in the asteroid belt in 2025.
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