First estimate of the shape and size of asteroid (52246) Donaldjohanson
First estimate of the shape and size of asteroid (52246) Donaldjohanson
Based on light curve measurements taken over several weeks in February and March 2025, the science team of NASA's Lucy mission has derived an initial estimate of the size and shape of asteroid (52246) Donaldjohanson. The asteroid is thought to have a rather elongated body with a length of just over four kilometres, shown here as a turquoise ellipse. For comparison, asteroid (2867) Šteins is of a similar size, and this image – taken during the Rosetta mission in 2008 – is shown for comparison. Also shown are the three smallest asteroids observed up close by spacecraft to date: Dinkinesh (2023, Lucy), Bennu (2018–2021, OSIRIS-REx) and Ryugu (2018–19, Hayabusa2).
