In 2022, NASA marked the success of its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission by intentionally colliding a spacecraft with an asteroid, which was celebrated as a significant accomplishment. Recently, Hubble Space Telescope captured a fantastic time-lapse video of the aftermath of the DART, which NASA described as having had “a ringside seat to the demolition derby.”
During the DART mission, Hubble, a collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency, took images of the asteroid Dimorphos over several days. Valuable information has already been gathered about the impact, such as that Dimorphos released a significant amount of debris.
The recent video showcases how the material was discharged from Dimorphos in a conical shape and subsequently transformed into a tail resembling a comet that momentarily bifurcated. NASA stated on Wednesday that “Astronomers were caught off guard by the findings and were amazed, gratified, and somewhat perplexed.” Take a look:
Dimorphos orbits a giant asteroid called Didymos. The objective of DART was to examine if an asteroid’s orbit could be changed using a Hollywood-style Hulk smash, and the mission was a success. This approach could be implemented in the future to mitigate the impact of hazardous asteroids on Earth.
NASA stated that the video is aiding in scientists’ enhanced comprehension of Dimorphos’ response to the spacecraft’s impact. The time-lapse film captured by Hubble exemplified astonishing and unexpected fluctuations every hour, portraying the ejection of dust and debris into space following DART’s collision.
NASA has identified multiple phases in the evolution of the asteroid. Initially, an ejecta cone emerged, and subsequently, the fragments coalesced into a corkscrew pattern, following the orbit of the smaller asteroid around Didymos. Approximately 17 hours after the collision, the formation of these rotating pinwheel-like structures took place.
Jian-Yang Li from the Planetary Science Institute remarked, “This is truly unusual for this specific event.” Upon viewing these images, Li was in disbelief at the characteristics presented, even questioning if the picture had been distorted. I was the principal author of a research study on the ejecta released in Nature on Wednesday.
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During the third phase, a prominent tail resembling a comet was developed due to the pressure of sunlight, which NASA likened to “a windsock caught in a breeze.” This tail subsequently separated into two for several days.
More is yet to come. ESA has planned a Hera mission for launch in 2024 to carry out an extensive post-impact examination of Dimorphos. These efforts are aimed at safeguarding our planet from potential hazards.
DART marked the commencement of a unique mission. Researchers are still analyzing the information and visuals with limited knowledge about the outcome. “Observing a binary asteroid system endure a live asteroid collision has never been done before,” remarked Li, stating, “It’s an amazing spectacle. The situation’s complexity calls for a comprehensive analysis, which will take some time.”
