NASA's DART's Impacts with asteroid Dimorphos

Yesterday evening, September 26, 2022, NASA successfully crashed its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) with Dimorphos, a moon of the minor-planet asteroid Didymos. The test is designed to determine if a spacecraft can deflect an asteroid via a transfer of momentum, as part of a planetary defense against near-Earth objects.  Dimorphos was chosen since it does not pose a threat to Earth. 

The project began as a collaboration between NASA and ESA, named Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment (AIDA) involving two separate spacecraft.  The ESA spacecraft AIM was to have launched in December 2020 but the project was cancelled.  It has been replaced by Hera to study the results of DART's impact on Dimorphos. Hera is expected to arrive in the Didymos system in 2026.

Dimorphos has a diameter of about 560 feet and was discovered in 2003.

Chiron, minor planet, discovered 1977

Chiron, a minor planet between Saturn and Uranus, was discovered November 1, 1977, by Charles Kowal.  It was the first of a class of objects known as centaurs, astral bodies orbiting between the asteroid belt and the Kuiper Belt.  

It also has a classification as a comet, 95P/Chiron.

It has a radius of about 107.8 + 5km and rotates about every 6 hours.  It orbits the sun about every 50.5 years.

In February 1988, it brightened by 75%, which is typical of comets but not asteroids.  In April 1989, it developed a cometary coma, and in 1993, it formed a tail.  

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov!

Vladimir Dzhanibekov, born May 13, 1942 in the former Soviet Union, is a veteran of five space flights.

His first mission was as commander aboard Soyuz 27 to Salyut 6 in January 1978.  He participated in expedition EP-1 and returned to Earth on Soyuz 26 about 6 days later.

His second mission was aboard Soyuz 39 as commander to Salyut 6 in March 1981, where he spent about 8 days before returning to Earth.

His third flight was aboard Soyuz T-6 as commander to Salyut 7 in June 1982 for another 8 days.

His fourth flight was as commander abord Soyuz T-12 to Salyut 7 in July 1984, where he stayed for about 12 days.

His fifth and final flight was aboard Soyuz T-13 as commander to Salyut 7 in June 1985.  He remained on board for about 3 1/2 months before returning to Earth.

He has a minor planet named after him: 3170 Dzhanibekov discovered in 1979.

Dawn arrives at Ceres 2015

Ceres as seen by Dawn

The spacecraft Dawn arrived at the minor planet Ceres March 6, 2015.  Launched September 27, 2007, Dawn made a flyby of Mars on its way to the asteroid belt, arriving at the minor planet Vesta July 6, 2011.  After a 14 month study, Dawn headed toward Ceres, the largest object between Mars and Jupiter.  Right away, Dawn started sending back stunning pictures of the minor planet, showing mysterious bright spots on the surface.

Dawn will continue to study Ceres until its fuel runs out later this year.  It will remain in a stable orbit around the minor planet.