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Lucy Mission Unveils Geology of Asteroid Named After Johanson

9/26/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Lucy flew by asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson on April 20, 2025, revealing geology.
The asteroid honors paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson, who discovered the "Lucy" skeleton.
Geological features named include Afar, Olduvai, Windover; Boxgrove Saxum and Narmada.
The asteroid is a 150-million-year-old contact binary; Lucy's mission will study Jupiter's Trojan asteroids, with encounters planned for 2027.

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Story summary

Lucy flew by asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson on April 20, 2025, revealing geology.
The asteroid honors paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson, who discovered the "Lucy" skeleton.
Geological features named include Afar, Olduvai, Windover; Boxgrove Saxum and Narmada.
The asteroid is a 150-million-year-old contact binary; Lucy's mission will study Jupiter's Trojan asteroids, with encounters planned for 2027.