Lucy's Next Asteroid Adventure

NASA's Lucy spacecraft is gearing up for an exciting encounter with a very old space rock. This asteroid, named Donaldjohanson, has been floating around for about 150 million years. It is not just any asteroid. It is a key player in Lucy's mission to explore the Trojan asteroids near Jupiter. Lucy's main goal is to visit a group of asteroids that are stuck in Jupiter's orbit. These asteroids are like time capsules, holding clues about the early days of our solar system. But before it gets to Jupiter, Lucy has a few practice runs planned. Donaldjohanson is one of them. Why is Donaldjohanson so special? Well, it is not your average asteroid. Scientists think it might have a weird shape and spin very slowly. This could be because of how it has been affected by heat and other forces over time. It is like a slow dancer in a fast-moving cosmic ballroom. The flyby will happen on April 20. During this close encounter, Lucy will gather important data. It will look at the asteroid's shape, surface, and any craters it might have. This information is crucial because it can only be collected up close. It is like trying to understand a person by looking at them from far away versus having a chat with them. Scientists are excited because Donaldjohanson seems different from other asteroids they have studied. Asteroids like Bennu and Ryugu have already been visited and sampled. But Donaldjohanson might have its own unique story to tell. It is like meeting a new friend who has a different background and experiences. The Trojan asteroids are particularly interesting because they are like fossils of the solar system. They can help scientists piece together how our solar system formed. It is like finding an old, well-preserved dinosaur bone that tells us about the past. Lucy's journey started in October 2021. It launched from Florida and is now on its way to meet Donaldjohanson. The data from this flyby will be very important. It will help scientists understand more about these mysterious space rocks. It is like getting a front-row seat to a cosmic show.