Why the smallest space rocks hold the biggest solar system secrets
In short: While scientists once focused on massive planets, new technology is zooming in on asteroids and comets. This episode explores how the Lucy spacecraft's journey to Jupiter's orbit is reshaping our understanding of the early solar system.
The Lucy mission is venturing to study the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, a group of primitive remnants trapped in stable orbits near the giant planet. By examining these small bodies, researchers hope to find answers to fundamental questions regarding the origins of planetary formation, the arrival of Earth's water, and the emergence of life.
The spacecraft is scheduled to perform flybys of several asteroids, including Eurybates and its satellite Queta in August 2027, and Patroclus and Menoetius in March 2033.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Lucy in the Sky with Asteroids | Podcast | Overheard at National Geographic
- Also: Lucy - NASA Science
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