Donaldjohanson Image Gallery
Images
Asteroid Donaldjohanson (boxed in white) moving amongst background stars as seen by Lucy from 45 million miles away (70 million km). These alternating images, taken on Feb 20 and Feb 22, were released on February 25th, 2025, just 53 days before encounter! To the bottom right, you can see a different asteroid passing through the field of view!
Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL/NOIRLab
The asteroid Donaldjohanson as seen by the Lucy Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (L’LORRI). This is one of the most detailed images returned by NASA’s Lucy spacecraft during its flyby. This image was taken at 1:51 p.m. EDT (17:51 UTC), April 20, 2025, near closest approach, from a range of approximately 660 miles (1,100 km). The spacecraft’s closest approach distance was 600 miles (960 km), but the image shown was taken approximately 40 seconds beforehand. The image has been sharpened and processed to enhance contrast.
Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL/NOIRLab
The asteroid Donaldjohanson as seen by the Lucy Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (L’LORRI) on NASA’s Lucy spacecraft during its flyby. This timelapse shows images captured approximately every 2 seconds beginning at 1:50 p.m. EDT (17:50 UTC), April 20, 2025. The asteroid rotates very slowly; its apparent rotation here is due to the spacecraft’s motion as it flies by Donaldjohanson at a distance of 1,000 to 660 miles (1,600 to 1,100 km). The spacecraft’s closest approach distance was 600 miles (960 km), but the images shown were taken approximately 40 seconds beforehand, the nearest ones at a distance of 660 miles (1100 km).
Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL/NOIRLab
Asteroid Donaldjohanson as seen by the Lucy spacecraft from a range of 2,700 km, about 3.2 minutes before closest approach on April 20, 2025. This is the highest resolution image of the entire asteroid, taken just before it overfilled the L’LORRI field of view. The smallest visible features are about 40 meters across. The illumination conditions, with the sun almost behind Lucy (solar phase angle 6 degrees), greatly reduce the contrast of topographic details.
Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL
Use Red-Blue glasses for a 3D view
A stereo image pair combining the last complete approach image (right) with a slightly clipped image taken 72 seconds later (left).
Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL
Cross your eyes for a 3D view
A stereo image pair combining the last complete approach image (right) with a slightly clipped image taken 72 seconds later (left).
Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL
Relax your eyes or use a stereocopic viewer for a 3D view
A stereo image pair combining the last complete approach image (right) with a slightly clipped image taken 72 seconds later (left).
Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL
Diagrams
Artist conception of Donaldjohanson.
Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL/NOIRLab