Close approach of (65803) Didymos

[PMSchu]

If the MP is deflected, it's a win. If the rock is pulverized into pieces that are small enough that they'll burn up in the atmosphere, all is good. If it splits into several smaller objects, then we've just shot ourselves with a shotgun. Hard to say what would be worse. Maybe some of the 'pellets' would miss altogether, so there'd be less total mass hitting the planet.

Phil S.

[PMSchu]

Here's a new update about NASA's DART mission to the Didymos-Dimorphos double asteroid system:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/03/...asteroids/

After much additional observation, including using 22 stellar occultations, the team determined that the impact decreased the along-track velocity of the dual asteroid system by ~11.7 µm/sec. Not much, but enough to have an effect, if given enough advance warning.

There's much more info in the article about the team's findings.

Phil S.