NASA's Lucy spacecraft has made an incredible leap into the cosmos, delivering breathtaking close-up images of its second target: the enigmatic asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson.

Lucy’s Journey to the Stars

Launched in 2021, the Lucy probe is embarking on a thrilling 12-year expedition toward Jupiter, set to study the mysterious swarm of asteroids known as Jupiter’s Trojans. These fascinating space rocks are remnants of our solar system's infancy, sharing an orbit with the giant planet, and as Lucy travels, it's also fitting in some sneak peeks at targets ahead.

A Close Encounter with Donaldjohanson

On April 20, during a daring flyby, Lucy zoomed within a mere 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) of the asteroid named after famed paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson, who co-discovered the Lucy hominid fossil in Ethiopia back in 1974. This close encounter showcased the rocky surface of Donaldjohanson, measuring about three miles (five kilometers) wide, with dynamic variations in brightness.

The images captured hint at an intriguing story: the asteroid may actually be two smaller pieces that merged, distinguished by a narrow neck connecting its lobes. Hal Levison, the principal investigator for Lucy, exclaimed, ‘Asteroid Donaldjohanson has strikingly complicated geology! This complexity may unveil crucial insights into the building blocks and collisional events that shaped our planets.’

The Appearance of Motion

The latest images create an illusion of rotation. However, this apparent movement is not due to the asteroid’s slow spin—taking three years and eight months for a full rotation—but rather a result of Lucy's high-speed flyby at 8.3 miles per second (13.4 kilometers per second).

New Dimensions of Discovery

Preliminary analysis reveals that Donaldjohanson is even more massive than scientists first thought, measuring about 5 miles (8 kilometers) long and 2 miles (3.5 kilometers) wide at its broadest section. While the provided images don't depict the entire asteroid—it exceeds the imager field of view—the Lucy team expects to download more data over the upcoming week, giving a fuller understanding of this celestial giant.

Unlocking Solar System Secrets!

Tom Statler, program scientist for the Lucy mission, remarked, ‘These initial images from Donaldjohanson demonstrate Lucy’s profound capacity as a discovery engine. The possibilities for unveiling the history of our solar system when Lucy reaches the Trojan asteroids are limitless!’

What’s Next for Lucy?

After this remarkable flyby, Lucy will continue its journey through the asteroid belt, with sights set on the Jupiter Trojan asteroids. Mark your calendars for August 2027, when Lucy will encounter its first Trojan destination: asteroid Eurybates and its moonlet Queta. Stay tuned for more cosmic revelations!