ABU DHABI: In a significant collaboration with NASA, the Al Khatim Observatory in Abu Dhabi has conducted crucial astronomical observations to assist in navigating a spacecraft launched by NASA as part of the “Lucy” mission. This mission, initiated in 2021, is set to explore several asteroids near Jupiter, enhancing the UAE’s standing in the field of astronomy and showcasing its advanced capabilities in supporting international space exploration efforts.
According to Emirates News Agency, Khalfan bin Sultan Al Nuaimi, Head of the International Astronomical Center, confirmed that the observatory received a request on July 4, 2024, from a British observatory overseeing global observatories. The request aimed to observe an asteroid near Jupiter, leveraging the UAE’s strategic location due to the limited number of professional astronomical observatories in the Arab region. This collaboration was pivotal to complement observations from other parts of the world.
Al Nuaimi detailed that the target is a binary asteroid system consisting of two asteroids orbiting each other every 103 hours. The larger asteroid, named 617 Patroclus, has a diameter of 113 km, while the smaller one, Menoetius, measures 104 km. These asteroids are part of a group near Jupiter that the NASA spacecraft will visit in 2033. Participating observatories were tasked with monitoring the binary system during specific transit events, which are critical for determining the asteroids’ geometry.
Mohammad Shawkat Odeh, Director of Al Khatim Observatory, highlighted the importance of these observations for the “Lucy” mission’s success. He stressed that accurate pre-programming of the spacecraft’s scientific tasks, including navigation and imaging, is crucial, as real-time corrections are unfeasible due to the 50-minute light travel time from the spacecraft’s location. Precise orbital parameters are essential to avoid mission failure, necessitating a global campaign involving capable observatories.
The observation process involved capturing a series of images of the asteroid system during transit events, lasting up to seven hours. A global campaign was organized, involving observatories from Australia to the United States, to create a comprehensive light curve of brightness variations. Al Khatim Observatory made significant contributions, conducting ten out of the 21 total observations in the campaign, which included 18 observatories worldwide.
The findings from these observations were published in the scientific journal The Minor Planet Bulletin in the January-March 2025 issue, under the title “617 Patroclus-Menoetius Mutual Event Lightcurves.” This publication detailed the results of the campaign and provided valuable data for the upcoming exploratory visit by the NASA spacecraft in 2033.