NASA's Lucy Mission Prepares for Asteroid Donaldjohanson Flyby

The April 20, 2025, encounter will study the peculiar asteroid's characteristics and validate Earth-based models of asteroid formation.

Donaldjohanson, a three-mile-wide main belt asteroid, is estimated to have formed 150 million years ago from the breakup of a larger parent asteroid.
The asteroid is a member of the Erigone collisional family and features unique traits such as a slow rotation and elongated shape, possibly caused by thermal torques.
The Lucy spacecraft's flyby will provide critical close-up data to enhance understanding of asteroid formation and validate existing models.
Donaldjohanson is distinct from other studied asteroids like Bennu and Ryugu, though scientists anticipate potential connections may emerge from the flyby data.
This mission highlights the Lucy program's broader goal of studying 11 asteroids over 12 years to uncover insights into the solar system's history.