NASA’s asteroid investigator Lucy exams out its 4 cameras

April 16, 2022

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NASA’s Lucy mission launched final 12 months on its journey to the Trojan asteroids, positioned within the orbit of Jupiter. Regardless of an subject with considered one of its photo voltaic arrays, the spacecraft has been touring as hoped and is on its solution to research the traditional asteroids with the purpose to be taught extra about how the photo voltaic system shaped. Now, NASA has shared a few of the first photos taken by Lucy’s devices as a part of their calibration course of.

Lucy has a complete of 4 cameras, together with the 2 twin Terminal Monitoring Cameras (T2CAM), which have a large area of view and are used to lock onto asteroids and level the opposite devices in the correct path as Lucy performs shut flybys of them. The opposite cameras are the Multicolor Seen Imaging Digicam (MVIC) which is able to take panorama-like photos, and the Lengthy-Vary Reconnaissance Imager (L’LORRI) which is able to take high-resolution, up-close photos of the asteroids. Along with its cameras, Lucy additionally has a spectrometer and an instrument for mapping temperature.

With an exposure time of 10 seconds, the Rosette Nebula is just visible in the lower right of center of the T2CAM frame. — With an publicity time of 10 seconds, the Rosette Nebula is simply seen within the decrease proper of heart of the T2CAM body. NASA/Goddard/SwRI

These calibration photos have been taken in February this 12 months, as a part of a process that concerned pointing the spacecraft devices towards 11 completely different targets to examine each that the spacecraft might level appropriately and that the devices have been sufficiently delicate and correct. This was the second set of calibration photos taken, after a preliminary however a lot much less detailed set of photos have been taken quickly after launch in November 2021.

The faintest visible stars in this raw L’LORRI image are roughly 17th magnitude, 50,000 times fainter than the unaided human eye can see. Image brightness levels have been adjusted to enhance visibility of faint stars. The exposure time was 10 seconds. Keen observers will notice that the stars are slightly elongated in this relatively unprocessed image; the Lucy team has techniques to mitigate this effect, and the optical quality is sufficient for accomplishing the science goals of the mission. — The faintest seen stars on this uncooked L’LORRI picture are roughly seventeenth magnitude, 50,000 occasions fainter than the unaided human eye can see. Picture brightness ranges have been adjusted to boost visibility of faint stars. The publicity time was 10 seconds. Eager observers will discover that the celebs are barely elongated on this comparatively unprocessed picture; the Lucy staff has strategies to mitigate this impact, and the optical high quality is adequate for engaging in the science targets of the mission. NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL

The photographs present that the devices are working nicely and are prepared for his or her encounter with the Trojan asteroids, the place Lucy is ready to reach in 2027.

“We began engaged on the Lucy mission idea early in 2014, so this launch has been lengthy within the making,” stated Lucy’s principal investigator, Hal Levison of the Southwest Analysis Institute within the institute’s 2021 annual report. “It would nonetheless be a number of years earlier than we get to the primary Trojan asteroid, however these objects are well worth the wait and all the trouble due to their immense scientific worth. They’re like diamonds within the sky.”