Last week , NASA ’s DARTsuccessfully slammedinto the surface of Dimorphos , the small soundbox that revolve asteroid Didymos . The goal of the commission is to show that we can deflect an asteroid by change its orbit – and while it is too early to confirm that , astronomers are gettingall types of insightinto the effect .

research worker from the National Science Foundation ’s SOAR telescope in Chile imaged the binary asteroid and discovered that the shock is leave a trail of detritus behind . Just two days after the impact , this tail stretch forth for more than 10,000 kilometers ( 6,000 mile ) .

Like in a comet , sunshine played a role . However , instead of making the surface sublimate , low-cal from the sun is pushing the detritus particles creating the social organisation seen by astronomers Teddy Kareta and Matthew Knight .

“ It is awesome how clearly we were able-bodied to capture the structure and extent of the consequence in the days following the impact , ” Kareta , from Lowell Observatory , say in astatement .

“ Now begins the next phase of work for the DART team as they analyze their data point and observations by our squad and other percipient around the world who portion out in studying this exciting event , ” contribute Knight , of the US Naval Academy . “ We plan to employ SOAR to supervise the ejecta in the coming weeks and months . The compounding of SOAR and AEON is just what we need for effective follow - up of evolve events like this one . ”

The whole ballistic capsule weighed about 500 kilograms ( 1,100 pounds ) , like a small car , and trip at 6.6 kilometers ( 4.1 miles ) per second . The impact is have a bun in the oven to have subdue the velocity of Dimorphus by 0.4 mm per second . That is a lilliputian amount , but scientists require it will be enough to make a change over time . By reducing its velocity , the moonlet will move nigher to Didymus . The team expects that its eventual orbital period , currently at 11 hour and 55 minutes , will be reduce by about 10 instant

Detailed measure of the shift in orbital cavity will be conducted with telescopes from Earth and space – but the true follow - up will be theHera missionfrom the European Space Agency . It will come at the binary asteroid system in 2027 and will provide a detailed analysis of the effect of DART on Dimorphos .