Astronomers on the Lucy mission have made significant discoveries about asteroid Donaldjohanson. The asteroid’s age and origin are now better understood.
Donaldjohanson, with a diameter of 4 kilometers, is an unusual object. It has silicate rocks, likely containing clay and organic matter. The asteroid appears to be elongated and slowly rotating due to thermal torques.
The study suggests that Donaldjohanson may hold surprises during its upcoming flyby in April 2025. This is seen as a dress rehearsal for the main science program.
Donaldjohanson is part of the Erigone family, a group of asteroids formed when a larger parent asteroid split apart 150 million years ago. Astronomers are excited about Lucy’s visit, which may reveal unexpected connections to other near-Earth asteroids like Bennu and Ryugu.
Source: https://universemagazine.com/en/150-million-years-astronomers-determine-the-age-of-the-lucy-missions-next-target