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ESA’s Hera spacecraft resolves Didymos and Dimorphos ahead of close study of NASA’s DART impact

The European Space Agency’s Hera planetary-defense probe has imaged Didymos and its smaller moon Dimorphos as separate objects for the first time, as it approaches the binary asteroid system. Hera will investigate the aftermath of NASA’s DART collision, collecting data on kinetic-impact deflection and probing outstanding scientific questions about the asteroids.

Discovered 2026-11-03T05:15:21.206112-08:00 | 2026-11-03T05:15:21.206112-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

Hera’s observations will provide close-up data on the effects of NASA’s DART impact, informing assessment of the kinetic-impact method for asteroid deflection.
Separating the two asteroids in images marks a mission milestone as Hera approaches its target to investigate the collision’s aftermath and unresolved questions about the system.

Reported By

Space.com Science Daily ESA