The GTC observes binary asteroid Didymos, main target of the ESA Hera space mission

07/03/2019
The World’s largest optical and infrared telescope is part of this space project by observing binary asteroid Didymos in order to assess the impact that NASA DART mission will have on its orbit. Both Hera and DART were conceived as part of the international “Asteroid Impact Deflection Assessment” experiment (AIDA), aimed to study deflection techniques to avoid future asteroids that could impact on the Earth. Julia de León, IAC Severo Ochoa advance postdoctoral researcher, and Marcel Popescu, IAC postdoctoral researcher, are carrying the observational campaign, which began 8 March with the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC). >> Read more