Chasing an Asteroid's Shadow

The video explains the concept of occultation and its role in NASA's Lucy Mission, which aims to study Trojan asteroids. These asteroids, remnants of the early solar system, provide insights into planet formation. Occultation occurs when an asteroid passes in front of a star, allowing scientists to measure its size and shape. The video details how astronomers predict and observe these events, using telescopes to gather data. The Lucy Mission will continue to study these asteroids until 2033, enhancing our understanding of the solar system.

What is the primary goal of NASA's Lucy Mission?

• To land on the Moon

• To observe the rings of Saturn

• To study the Trojan asteroids

• To explore the surface of Mars

What is an occultation in the context of astronomy?

• A phenomenon where an asteroid passes in front of a star

• A type of lunar eclipse

• A solar flare event

• A meteor shower

How do astronomers predict the path of an asteroid's shadow during an occultation?

• By measuring the asteroid's temperature

• By using satellite imagery

• By analyzing the asteroid's velocity and trajectory

• By observing the asteroid's color

What is the significance of observing multiple occultations of the same asteroid?

• To create a 3D model of the asteroid

• To measure the asteroid's distance from Earth

• To calculate the asteroid's temperature

• To determine the asteroid's color

Until what year will the Lucy Mission continue to observe occultations?

• 2040

• 2030

• 2025

• 2033