Lucy Provides Full View of Main-Belt Asteroid Donaldjohanson

Lucy Mission de la NASA continues to analyze the images collected during the meeting of the space on April 20, 2025 with the carbonated asteroid Donaldjohanson.

Donaldjohanson seen by Lucy Spacecraft of NASA from a range of approximately 2,700 km (1,700 miles), approximately 3.2 minutes before the closest approach on April 20, 2025. The lighting conditions, with the sun almost behind Lucy, considerably reduce the contrast of topographic details. Image credit: NASA / Goddard / Swri / Johns Hopkins APL.

Donaldjohanson is located in the interior regions of the main asteroid belt of the solar system.

This asteroid was discovered for the first time on March 2, 1981 by the American Astronomer Schelte Bus at the Spring Spring observatory.

On April 20, 2025, the Lucy de la Nasa spacecraft flew over Donaldjohanson, less than 960 km (600 miles) of its surface.

The meeting confirmed that the asteroid is an elongated binary of contact – an object formed when two smaller bodies collide.

However, the members of the Lucy team were surprised by the strange shape of the narrow neck connecting the two lobes, which resembles two cones of nested ice cream.

A pair of stereo images combining the last complete approach image (right) with a slightly cut image taken 72 seconds later (left). For a three -dimensional view of the asteroid structure, cross your eyes while focusing on the image. Image credit: NASA / Goddard / Swri / Johns Hopkins APL / Brian May / Claudia Manzoni.

“The newly released images were taken by Lorri imaging of the spacecraft a few minutes before his closest approach,” the researchers wrote in a press release.

“This successful general rehearsal gives the team great confidence that the spacecraft and our team are well prepared for the main events: the coming meetings with the asteroids of Jupiter Trojan.”

“The spaceship itself is now in a relatively silent cruise period while it continues to travel through the main asteroid belt.”

“Lucy stands out from the sun at more than 50,000 km per hour (30,000 MPh).”

“We will continue to monitor the spacecraft as it moves to the cooler and more gradator outdoor solar system.”

“Once Lucy reaches Trojan asteroids, he will lead four games, observing at least six asteroids – including two satellites discovered by our team – in less than 15 months.”

“The first meeting will be with the Eurybates asteroids in August 2027.”