The 'fabulous one' is orbited by 'peace'
The 'fabulous one' is orbited by 'peace'
On 1 November 2023, NASA's Lucy space probe flew past the asteroid Dinkinesh at a distance of 431 kilometres. A satellite appeared behind the main belt asteroid, which is only 720 metres across, in the first image data received (large image). However, the real surprise came with images taken during the departure from Dinkinesh: The satellite is a double body, a so-called contact binary asteroid, whose two 210 and 230-metre sub-bodies are connected to each other, rotate around a common centre of gravity and orbit Dinkinesh (small image). Like Dinkinesh (‘the marvellous one’), the companion was given an Amharic name: Selam ('peace', ሰላም).
Credit:
NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL/NOIRLab