By Katherine Kretke, Southwest Research Institute
Would possibly maybe presumably merely 21, 2022
NASA’s Lucy mission, which launched on October 16, 2021, for the first reconnaissance of the Trojans, a population of historical asteroids orbiting in tandem with Jupiter. In this artist’s view (no longer to scale), the Lucy spacecraft is flying by Eurybates, one amongst the six various and scientifically vital Trojans to be studied. Credit: Southwest Research Institute
NASA’s Lucy spacecraft noticed the total lunar eclipse on Would possibly maybe presumably merely 15-16, 2022, from a undeniable vantage point, 64 million miles (100 million km) from the Earth, nearly 70% of the gap between the Earth and the Sun. Utilizing its high-resolution panchromatic camera, L’LORRI, Lucy modified into once ready to survey because the Earth solid its shadow on the Moon. At this distance, the Earth and Moon seemed handiest 0.2 degrees apart to Lucy, having the the same separation as a automobile’s tail-lights as viewed from a quarter-mile (400 m) away.
Credit: NASA/Goddard/APL/SwRI
In this timelapse video, the Earth is viewed within the left (its rotation clearly viewed) while the Moon (on the upright, brightened sixfold to lengthen its visibility) disappears from watch because it passes into the Earth’s shadow. The video covers a length of nearly three hours, from 9: 40 p.m. EDT (6: 40 p.m. PDT) on Would possibly maybe presumably merely 15 to 12: 30 a.m. EDT on Would possibly maybe presumably merely 16 (9: 30 p.m. PDT on Would possibly maybe presumably merely 15). The observations ended earlier than the Moon emerged from the shadow.
The Lucy spacecraft launched in October 2021. It is presently traveling help in direction of Earth for a gravity abet on October 16, 2022, to abet propel it on its trot to the Trojan asteroids.