Title: NASA’s Lucy Spacecraft Discovers Tiny Moon Orbiting Asteroid Near Mars
Subtitle: Surprising Findings during Flyby Opens New Avenues of Research
[Date] [Location] – NASA’s Lucy spacecraft, launched in October 2021 to research Jupiter’s asteroids, recently captured an unexpected discovery when it snapped a picture of a smaller asteroid near Mars, presenting scientists with a shocking surprise. This revelation has opened new avenues for research in the field of planetary exploration.
The asteroid in question, named Dinkinesh, was accurately photographed by Lucy during a flyby in Mars’ main asteroid belt, approximately 300 million miles away. The Associated Press reported that the spacecraft was able to send back data and images after being only 270 miles away from Dinkinesh, providing valuable insight into its characteristics.
One of the extraordinary findings was the size of Dinkinesh, measuring a mere half-mile across. However, what truly stunned scientists was the presence of a diminutive moon orbiting around the asteroid, measuring just one-tenth of a mile across. This unexpected sidekick left researchers astounded.
The successful photographing of Dinkinesh and its tiny moon served as a rehearsal for Lucy’s primary mission: the exploration of mysterious asteroids in Jupiter’s vicinity. This 12-year-long mission, which commenced on October 16, 2021, marks the first-ever spacecraft mission to the Jupiter asteroids.
Lucy is expected to reach the first of the so-called Trojan asteroids, which share orbits with Jupiter, in 2027. The spacecraft will spend at least six years studying these asteroids, a number that has grown from the original list of seven to eleven. This mission aims to revolutionize our understanding of planetary origins and the formation of the solar system.
The name Dinkinesh, meaning “you are marvelous” in the Amharic language of Ethiopia, holds significant relevance to this remarkable discovery. It is not only the Amharic name for Lucy, the 3.2-million-year-old remains of a human ancestor found in Ethiopia in the 1970s, but it also perfectly describes the surprising nature of the findings. Southwest Research Institute’s Hal Levison, the lead scientist, expressed his awe, stating, “Dinkinesh really did live up to its name; this is marvelous.”
This groundbreaking discovery by Lucy further intensifies the anticipation surrounding upcoming research missions and deepens our knowledge of the intricate celestial environment. NASA’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration continues to captivate scientists and unveil the hidden wonders of our solar system.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.