Observations of Didymos: Past Results and Future Plans

Creators: Thomas, C.; Rivkin, Andrew S.; Pravec, P.; Scheirich, Peter; Carry, Benoît; de Léon, J.; Green, S.; Howell, Ellen S.; Knight, M. M.; Licandro, Javier; Moskovitz, Nicholas A.; Osip, David J.; Snodgrass, Colin; Thomas-Osip, Joanna E.

Others:: Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff; Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University; Ondrejov Observatory; Charlottesville, VA, United States; Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur ; COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA); Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides (IMCCE) ; Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris ; Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Lille-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS); Astéroïdes, comètes, météores et éphémérides (ACME) ; Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides (IMCCE) ; Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris ; Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Lille-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris ; Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Lille-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS); Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC); Open University; Department of Planetary Sciences, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona (LPL); University of Maryland [College Park] ; University of Maryland System; Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff; NRL, Washington; Gemini Observatory, Southern Operations Center

Description

The binary near-Earth asteroid (65803) Didymos is the target for the two components of the Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment (AIDA) mission. The NASA DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission is scheduled to impact the Didymos secondary during its apparition in 2022. ESA's proposed Hera mission will arrive years later to obtain in situ observations of the system following the DART impact. One key scientific goal of AIDA is to measure and characterize the deflection caused by the impact. A combination of spacecraft and ground and space based optical and radar observations in 2022 will provide the required data for AIDA to meet its top-level mission goals.

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Observations of Didymos: Past Results and Future Plans

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