Unanticipated Aftermath of First-of-Its-Kind Test Intrigues Astronomers
NASA performed the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), a first-of-its-kind experiment, on September 26, 2022. The pioneering experiment was created to purposefully crash a spacecraft into a little asteroid on the planets first-ever in-space test for planetary defense. According to NASA, the mission achieved success in changing the orbit of Dimorphos, the asteroid moonlet of Didymos. However, there is still much to find out about the system.
Follow-up observations from NASAs Hubble Space Telescope are already revealing the clearest image of a sensational surprise– a recently developed 2nd tail of ejecta.
2 tails of dust ejected from the Didymos-Dimorphos asteroid system are seen in brand-new images from NASAs Hubble Space Telescope, documenting the sticking around aftermath of NASAs Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) effect. Hubble has made 18 observations of the system following impact. Images suggests the second tail formed in between October 2 and October 8. In this image, DART affected the Didymos-Dimorphos system from the 10 oclock direction. The relationship in between the comet-like tail and other ejecta functions seen at various times in images from Hubble and other telescopes is still uncertain, and is something the Investigation Team is presently working to comprehend. Credit: Science: NASA, ESA, STScI, Jian-Yang Li (PSI), Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale
NASAs Hubble Space Telescope Spots Twin Tails in New Image After DART Impact
New images from NASAs Hubble Space Telescope plainly reveal 2 tails of dust ejected from the Didymos-Dimorphos asteroid system. These images become part of Hubbles operate in recording the remaining consequences of NASAs Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) impact.
On September 26, the DART spacecraft deliberately impacted Dimorphos, a small moonlet of Didymos in a planetary defense test. The goal was to alter Dimorphos orbit by crashing into it. Current data show that DART was effective and shortened Dimorphos original 11-hour and 55-minute orbit around Didymos by about 32 minutes.
Over the last several weeks, duplicated observations from Hubble have actually provided researchers with a more total image of how the systems debris cloud has actually developed over time. The observations reveal that the ejected material, or “ejecta,” has actually broadened and faded in brightness as time went on after effect, mainly as anticipated. Although the twin tail is an unforeseen development, similar habits is often seen in comets and active asteroids. The most current Hubble observations provide the best-quality image of the double-tail to date.
2 tails of dust ejected from the Didymos-Dimorphos asteroid system are seen in new images from NASAs Hubble Space Telescope, documenting the sticking around consequences of the NASAs Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) impact.At the leading right of the image, there are arrows suggesting the instructions of impact by the DART spacecraft. The to Sun arrow points in the 8 oclock direction.Following impact, Hubble made 18 observations of the system. For Hubble, F350LP is blue.Credit: Science: NASA, ESA, STScI, Jian-Yang Li (PSI), Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale
Hubble made 18 observations of the system following the DART effect. Imagery suggests the 2nd tail formed between October 2 and October 8.
In this image, DART impacted the Didymos-Dimorphos system from the 10 oclock instructions.
The relationship between the comet-like tail and other ejecta features seen at different times in images from Hubble and other telescopes is still uncertain, and is something the Investigation Team is currently working to understand. In the coming months, researchers will be taking a better look at the data from Hubble to identify how the 2nd tail established.
This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image from October 8, 2022, reveals the particles blasted from the surface of Dimorphos 285 hours after the asteroid was intentionally affected by NASAs DART spacecraft on September 26. The shape of that tail has actually changed in time. Scientists are continuing to study this product and how it relocates area, in order to much better comprehend the asteroid. Credit: NASA/ESA/STScI/ Hubble.
The Hubble information were collected as part of Cycle 29 General Observers Program 16674.
The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of global cooperation between NASA and ESA. NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, conducts Hubble and Webb science operations. STScI is run for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, in Washington, D.C.
Two tails of dust ejected from the Didymos-Dimorphos asteroid system are seen in brand-new images from NASAs Hubble Space Telescope, recording the sticking around consequences of NASAs Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) impact. The relationship in between the comet-like tail and other ejecta features seen at numerous times in images from Hubble and other telescopes is still uncertain, and is something the Investigation Team is presently working to comprehend. 2 tails of dust ejected from the Didymos-Dimorphos asteroid system are seen in brand-new images from NASAs Hubble Space Telescope, recording the remaining consequences of the NASAs Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) impact.At the leading right of the image, there are arrows suggesting the direction of effect by the DART spacecraft. For Hubble, F350LP is blue.Credit: Science: NASA, ESA, STScI, Jian-Yang Li (PSI), Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale
The relationship in between the comet-like tail and other ejecta features seen at numerous times in images from Hubble and other telescopes is still uncertain, and is something the Investigation Team is presently working to understand.
