Latest news with #JupiterTrojan
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Here's what a Beatles song and a fossil have to do with a NASA mission to study asteroids
Instead of picturing yourself in a boat on a river with tangerine trees and marmalade skies, picture a spacecraft approaching a series of asteroids trapped by Jupiter's gravity. On Sunday, April 20, NASA's Lucy spacecraft — with ties to The Beatles' famous song with Lucy in the name — will make a close approach to study and photograph the asteroid Donaldjohanson, according to the space agency. This will be NASA's dress rehearsal before it approaches the Jupiter Trojan asteroids. These leftovers of the early solar system orbit in 'swarms' that lead and follow Jupiter's orbit, NASA stated. But they are not close in proximity to the largest planet in Earth's cosmic neighborhood. Lucy launched to the stars on Oct. 16, 2021, and is on a trajectory to study eight of the never-before-studied Jupiter Trojan asteroids, NASA said. The first few asteroids, including Donaldjohanson, make up part of the main asteroid belt that intersects the solar system between Mars and Jupiter. After two months of photographing Donaldjohanson, Lucy will continue until it reaches the first Jupiter Trojan asteroid Eurybates and its satellite Queta in 2027. Lucy's 12-year mission should conclude with the study of the asteroid Patroclus and its satellite Menoetius on March 3, 2033. The names of both Donaldjohanson and the spacecraft share a common thread with scientific exploration on Earth. The asteroid was named after anthropologist Donald Johanson, who in 1974 discovered what was then the oldest and most complete pre-human skeleton ever found, NASA stated. When the skeleton was found in Ethiopia, 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' by The Beatles played on the radio. Johanson and others named their find Lucy. 'And just as the Lucy fossil provided unique insights into human evolution, the Lucy mission promises to expand our knowledge of planetary origins,' the agency added. 4 planets align in early-morning sky: How and where to spot them Could Mass. see the northern lights in the night sky on Wednesday? Get ready for shooting stars: Lyrid meteor shower to illuminate night sky Remember when Pluto was a planet? Here's 10 photos NASA took of the dwarf planet Meteor shower known for 'fireballs' is coming this week: How to watch
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
7 facts about the University of Hawaiʻi's new asteroid mission
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Since the beginning of time, humans have looked up at the stars and dreamed of exploring the universe. This dream is becoming more of a reality with each passing year and as scientists hone their skills. One exciting project currently happening is NASA's Lucy mission, which is on a quest to learn more about asteroids orbiting near Jupiter known as Trojans. These asteroids are thought to be ancient remnants from the early solar system. And the University of Hawaii has been selected to be a part of this history making adventure. Here are some facts to know: 1. Emily Costello joins the team: Emily Costello who is a planetary scientist at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is one of eight scientists who have been selected to help NASA study these asteroids. Her work focuses on understanding how meteor impacts have shaped the surfaces of these ancient space rocks. She is joining seven other scientists affiliated with universities and research companies from around the world. 'Impacts are a pervasive geological process on small bodies, so it is critical that we accurately decipher how these impacts shape the formation and evolution of the asteroids,' said Costello, who is a researcher at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Geophysics and Planetology in the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST). 2. Trojan asteroids: The Jupiter Trojan asteroids are a group of small bodies that share an orbit with Jupiter around the Sun. These asteroids are important because they may hold clues about the early days of our solar system. The newly selected scientists will work closely with NASA and other mission team members to study the L4 Trojans during key flybys in 2027 and 2028.3. The role of impacts: Meteor impacts have changed the surface of these asteroids over billions of years. Costello will help NASA understand how these impacts mix up the surface layers and influence these asteroids' evolution. 'The history written and rewritten by impacts will influence the interpretation of all observations by the Lucy mission's scientific instruments that view Trojan surfaces,' Costello said. 'So, it's thrilling to be able to help interpret the first ever close-up look at these likely ancient asteroids.' 4. A 12-year mission: The Lucy spacecraft is on its way to study the L4 Trojan swarm. Launched in 2021, it will spend 12 years exploring the Trojan asteroids and other nearby space rocks. It will be the first mission to visit this group of asteroids and will help scientists gather valuable data about the formation of our solar system. Along the way, it will use gravity from Earth to help speed up its journey! 5. Named after a fossil: The mission is named after 'Lucy', the famous Ethiopian fossil of an early human ancestor, which helped scientists learn more about human evolution. Just like the fossil, the Lucy mission will help us understand the history of our solar system. 6. Groundbreaking mission: This group of scientists is the first selection of participating scientists for the Lucy mission, and they'll help guide the spacecraft's investigations over the next decade. 7. Joint endeavor: The Lucy mission is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, and Lockheed Martin Space built and operates the spacecraft. NASA's Lucy mission is a groundbreaking journey, and the L4 Trojans Participating Scientist Program plays a big role in answering the many questions scientists have about these mysterious space rocks. This mission is truly a team effort, with scientists from around the world working together to answer some of space's most pressing questions! You can click , and to learn more. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 Their research will help uncover important information about the history and formation of our solar system. They will stay involved until 2030 and will continue to analyze the data Lucy sends back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA spacecraft gets first photos of Asteroid Donaldjohansen on way to exploring even bigger space prize
NASA's Lucy spacecraft has got a new target in its sights. New photos have emerged of a small asteroid named Donaldjohanson. Images show the perceived motion of the asteroid. The Lucy spacecraft will pass within 596 miles of the 2-mile-wide asteroid on April 20. It will be the second asteroid encounter for the Lucy spacecraft. In the first image, another dim asteroid can be seen in the lower right section of the frame. Rare 7-Planet Parade Happens This Week. Here's How You Can See It The spacecraft has valued experience as it successfully observed the tiny main belt asteroid Dinkinesh and its contact binary moon, Selam, in November 2023. NASA says this second asteroid encounter for Lucy "will serve as a dress-rehearsal for the spacecraft's main targets, the never-before-explored Jupiter Trojan asteroids." NASA says the asteroid is named in honor of anthropologist Donald Johanson, who discovered the fossilized skeleton — called "Lucy" — of a human ancestor. The Lucy mission is named for the fossil, NASA added. The Donaldjohanson asteroid currently stands at a distance of 45 million miles away. Although the images are dim, the asteroid is just bright enough to stand out. Lucy will continue to monitor Donaldjohanson over the next two months as part of the optical navigation program, which uses the asteroid's apparent position against the star background to ensure an accurate article source: NASA spacecraft gets first photos of Asteroid Donaldjohansen on way to exploring even bigger space prize
