NASA Flyby Reveals Violent Origin of Weird Peanut-Shaped Asteroid

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1. 5h ago

   NASA Lucy Flyby Details Violent Origins of Asteroid Donaldjohanson

   The Lucy spacecraft revealed that asteroid Donaldjohanson is a peanut-shaped contact binary formed by a catastrophic collision. The object exhibits a complex dual-axis rotation rather than a steady spin. It consists of two lobes joined by a narrow neck.

   What's confirmed:

   • Donaldjohanson is a peanut-shaped asteroid consisting of two lobes connected by a narrow neck.
   • The asteroid rotates end-over-end once every 10.5 Earth days and wobbles around its horizontal axis once every 26.5 days.
   • The asteroid was formed by a catastrophic collision.
   • NASA's Lucy spacecraft flew past the asteroid on April 20, 2025.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • The spacecraft passed within 650 miles of the surface at a speed of 30,000 miles per hour.
   • The asteroid is roughly five miles across.
   • The findings may rewrite what scientists expect from small asteroids.
   confidence 95%
2. 1d ago

   NASA Lucy Mission Reveals Violent Origin of Asteroid Donaldjohanson

   NASA's Lucy spacecraft conducted a flyby of asteroid Donaldjohanson in April 2025. Data reveals a peanut-shaped, double-lobed object that wobbles in space. Findings published on June 18 indicate the asteroid was formed by a catastrophic collision.

   What's confirmed:

   • NASA's Lucy spacecraft flew past asteroid Donaldjohanson on April 20, 2025.
   • The asteroid is peanut-shaped with a double-lobed structure and wobbles in space.
   • Donaldjohanson is 155 million years old.
   • The asteroid is likely a byproduct of a catastrophic collision 155 million years ago.
   • The Lucy spacecraft passed 650 miles away from the asteroid.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • Asteroid Donaldjohanson once held water.
   • The asteroid has a fractured interior.
   confidence 90%