What is the story about?
What's Happening?
NASA's Lucy spacecraft has visited the asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson, and its geological features have been officially named by the International Astronomical Union. The asteroid is named after Donald Johanson, the paleoanthropologist who discovered the hominin skeleton 'Lucy.' The asteroid's features are named after regions significant to human evolution, such as Afar and Olduvai. The Lucy mission aims to study Trojan asteroids, which share Jupiter's orbit, to understand the early solar system.
Why It's Important?
Naming the features of asteroid Donaldjohanson after human origins highlights the connection between space exploration and the study of human evolution. The Lucy mission's focus on Trojan asteroids is crucial for understanding the formation and evolution of the solar system. These asteroids are believed to be remnants from the early solar system, providing insights into its history and the processes that shaped it. The mission's findings could have implications for our understanding of planetary formation and the conditions that led to the development of life on Earth.
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