Mars appears in light blue in this near infrared image taken by the HERA spacecraft. His moon Deimos is the dark brand towards the center of the image
ESA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu31-crtr9s
A space The exploration mission to study an asteroid that NASA deliberately crushed a spacecraft three years ago took superb images of March and its moon Deimos en route to its final destination.
The NASA double asteroid redirection test (DART) in 2022 was an attempt to show that bodies on a collision trajectory with our planet could be deliberately redirected to avoid a catastrophic impact. Earth's observations have shown that in crushing the profession, which had a mass of 580 kilograms on the impact, in the distant asteroid dimorphos at 6.6 kilometers per second, NASA has changed the asteroid orbit. Dimorphos presents no risk to the earth and simply actually active as a test subject.
Hera is a mission of the subsequent European space agency designed to take a closer look at the effect of the accident. The machine is around the size of a small car, weighing 1081 kilograms when it is completely powered. It was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, October 7, 2024 aboard a Spacex Falcon 9 Rocket and made an overview of March on March 12, 2025 on the way to the asteroid, which he will not reach until October 2026.
Deimos seems dark, framed by Mars
ESA
Hera was approaching up to 5,000 kilometers on the surface of MarchReceiving a boost of gravity that will launch it in Dimorphos. The maneuver has shortened its journey time for several months and saved it from fuel.
Although he was so close to Mars, he was also able to light a trio of sensors and take several detailed photographs on the planet and Deimos in the same framework. A black and white camera with a resolution of 1020 per 1020 pixels was used to capture images, as well as an infrared camera and a hyperspectral imagery that can detect a range of colors beyond the limits of the human eye.
Hera moved 9 kilometers per second compared to March and was able to imagine the Deimos of 12.4 kilometers at only 1000 kilometers. It could also photograph the side of the moon which is locked at the tide of Mars, which is less commonly captured.
Deimos shines much brighter than Mars in this plan captured by Hera's thermal infrared imaging
While / Jaxa
The initial concept behind the Hera mission was that it was present when Dart collided with Dimorphos, but funding delays made this impossible. It will now arrive several years after the impact.
The mission also carries two miniature satellites, or cubesats, called juventas and milani. Rather than orbit Dimorphos, they will fly in front of it, making scanning passes at gradually smaller and risky distances to collect data. Both should possibly land on the asteroid to look more closely, once they have done everything they can from a distance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdhfpyl92su
Embark on a captivating trip through Uzbekistan, exploring its astronomical contributions, its rich scientific history and its breathtaking landscapes. Explore how astronomy was part of the cultural exchange which took place along the Silk Road, which linked the regions to Eurasia and beyond.
Astronomy and culture through the cities of the Silk Road: Uzbekistan
