NASA’s Lucy spacecraft has returned images from its recent flyby of an asteroid, showcasing a long, lumpy, and peculiar space rock. The images, released shortly after the spacecraft’s close approach, are part of a preparatory phase for more significant encounters with asteroids located closer to Jupiter.
The asteroid, larger than initially expected, measures approximately 5 miles (8 kilometers) in length and 2 miles (3.5 kilometers) in width at its broadest point, resembling an irregularly shaped bowling pin. Due to its size, the spacecraft was unable to capture the entire asteroid in its first set of images. Further data, anticipated over the next week, is expected to provide more detailed insights into the asteroid’s shape.
On Sunday, Lucy passed within 600 miles (960 kilometers) of the asteroid named Donaldjohanson, situated in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The asteroid is named in honor of the paleontologist who discovered the fossil “Lucy” 50 years ago in Ethiopia. Launched in 2021, the Lucy mission aims to study the unexplored Trojan asteroids near Jupiter, with eight flybys planned through 2033.
