#AsteroidDayReflections: Highlights of 2023
#AsteroidDayReflections: Highlights of 2023 https://asteroidday-uploads.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/11223638/2-Asteroid-Day-reflections.jpeg 512 288 Asteroid Day https://asteroidday-uploads.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/11223638/2-Asteroid-Day-reflections.jpeg
The year 2023 has been highly successful for asteroid exploration. Over the course of this year, significant milestones were achieved in advancing our knowledge about celestial objects, which will undoubtedly shape the future research in this area. This presents an excellent opportunity for us to retrospectively appreciate these moments with our friends. Let us review the notable events of 2023.
Here are the key highlights:
The ongoing advancements of the DART Mission – although the DART mission impact occurred in 2022, its effects are still being observed this year, as they continue to unveil extraordinary findings. The Hubble Space Telescope detected dozens of fragments from the impacted asteroid Dimorphos, expelled into space as a result of the forceful collision with the DART probe.
Furthermore, the Italian Space Agency’s LICIA Cube has remotely captured an enthralling video documenting the impact.
Credits: NASA/ASI/Jacint Roger Perez
OSIRIS-REx: a milestone achieved and an exciting new journey ahead: the OSIRIS-REx probe capsule successfully landed in the Utah desert, USA, carrying fragments from the asteroid Bennu. As the collected samples undergo analysis in the laboratory, the probe now sets off on a new mission to explore the renowned asteroid Apophis.
Credits: NASA
Psyche Mission Sets Sail: A new odyssey in asteroid exploration has begun with the successful launch of the probe set to reach the metallic asteroid Psyche. Anticipated to arrive to its destination in 2029, the probe aims to significantly contribute to our understanding of this unique type of asteroid. This invaluable knowledge gained will offer important insights into the origin of our solar system as well as provide real perspectives on the potential extraction of its resources.
Credits: NASA/Kim Shiflett
Dinkinesh’s surprises: The Lucy probe has made an interesting discovery during its mission. It has been found that Dinkinesh is not just a single asteroid, but actually a binary system consisting of two distinct objects. What’s even more fascinating is that the subsequent images taken from a different angle revealed that Dinkinesh’s moon is a contact binary. Contact binary means that it is composed of two smaller objects in direct contact with each other. This discovery is groundbreaking as it is the first time we observe a contact binary orbiting another asteroid, providing us with a new perspective on these celestial objects.
Credits: NASA/Goddard / SwRI / Johns Hopkins APL
Global Celebration of Asteroid Day: The 2023 edition of Asteroid Day was a resounding success, with over 450 events taking place worldwide. The main event was the Asteroid Day Festival hosted in Luxembourg by the Asteroid Foundation, which brought together individuals of all ages who shared a common passion and enthusiasm for the exploration of space and asteroids.
Credits: Asteroid Foundation
If you are one of our social media fans, we would like to extend a special invitation for you to consider creating short videos to highlight the latest updates on asteroids and planetary defence.
Share your videos with the hashtag #AsteroidDayHighlights, and we’ll share them on our channels. This will allow you to showcase your work to our global audience of over 400,000 followers.
We also invite you to host an event for your community, allowing them to explore the research and advancements made this year. We encourage you to register this event online and submit a post-event report. Your insights and achievements can then be showcased on our website, serving as a great source of inspiration for others.
