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Asteroid Donaldjohanson as seen by the Lucy spacecraft from a range of about 1,700 miles (2,700 km), about 3.2 minutes before closest approach on April 20, 2025. This is the highest resolution image yet of the entire asteroid, taken just before it overfilled the L'LORRI field of view. The smallest visible features are about 130 feet (40 meters) across. The illumination conditions, with the Sun almost behind Lucy, greatly reduce the contrast of topographic details. Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL
Scientists with NASA's Lucy mission continue to analyze data collected during the spacecraft's April 20 encounter with the main-belt asteroid Donaldjohanson.
The images were taken by the spacecraft's L'LORRI imager a few minutes before its closest approach. This successful dress rehearsal gives the team high confidence that both the spacecraft and the team are well prepared for the main events: the upcoming encounters with the Jupiter Trojan asteroids.
The spacecraft itself is now in a relatively quiet cruise period as it continues traveling through the main asteroid belt. Lucy is heading away from the sun at more than 30,000 mph (50,000 km per hour), and the team will keep monitoring the spacecraft as it moves toward the cooler and dimmer outer solar system.
A stereo image pair combining the last complete approach image (right) with a slightly clipped image taken 72 seconds later (left). For a three-dimensional view of the asteroid’s structure, cross your eyes while focusing on the image. Note: The contrast of each image has been enhanced to make surface features easier to see and to compensate for small differences in lighting. Additionally, the perceived depth may vary due to factors such as the space between your eyes and your distance from the screen. Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL/Brian May/Claudia Manzoni
Once Lucy reaches the Trojan asteroids, it will conduct four encounters, observing at least six asteroids (including two satellites discovered by the Lucy team) in less than 15 months. The first encounter will be with the asteroid Eurybates in August 2027.
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Lucy mission provides full view of asteroid Donaldjohanson (2025, July 2)
retrieved 13 July 2025
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NASA's Lucy mission successfully captured detailed images of the asteroid Donaldjohanson during its closest approach, demonstrating the spacecraft's readiness for future encounters with Jupiter Trojan asteroids. Lucy is now cruising through the main asteroid belt and will observe at least six Trojan asteroids, including two satellites, over a 15-month period starting in August 2027.
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Lucy mission provides full view of asteroid Donaldjohanson
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