Lucy sees double

[Zermelo]

First photos back from Lucy's flyby of the asteroid Dinkinesh, which turned out to have a companion. Lucy will eventually visit members of the Trojan group.

https://www.space.com/lucy-asteroid-flyby-dinkinesh-binary-system

 

[Mr Spock]

Amazing such a tiny asteroid has a companion. Whatever next!

[Zermelo]

Yes, it looks as though this may be more common than you might expect

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minor-planet_moon

[mikeDnight]

It's a great image! 

[carastro]

Several of these small objects seem to have a smaller “companion” or attached smaller body.  ie. Rosetta, Ultima Thule etc.  must be some scientific explanation for why it happens and how they become attached. 
 

Interesting.  

Edited November 3, 2023 by carastro

[Mandy D]

2 minutes ago, carastro said:

Several of these small objects seem to have a smaller “companion” or attached smaller body.  ie. Rosetta, Ultima Thule etc.  must be some scientific explanation for why it happens and how they become attached. 
 

Interesting.  

Dr Simon Batty, one of my physics lecturers at Sheffield University studied the shapes of asteroids for his PhD which I think he did at Bangor. I remember talking about it with him one time a few years ago and recall that it looked at the ratios of the side lengths which could well be linked to this. The number √2 was connected with the ratios.

[Zermelo]

Well, it gets better

https://www.space.com/nasa-lucy-asteroid-dinky-3-space-rocks-contact-binary