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Bruce Murray Space Image Library

Galileo approaches Ida and Dactyl (animation)

Galileo approaches Ida and Dactyl (animation)
Galileo approaches Ida and Dactyl (animation) This animation contains 36 images of Ida and Dactyl shot over a 5-hour period as Galileo approached from a distance of 240,000 to about 24,000 kilometers. Galileo was imaging the asteroid through different-color filters, mapping its color as it rotated. The discovery of Dactyl was accidental. Because of Ida's small size and low gravity, Dactyl hardly appears to move in its orbit around Ida during this period. The images have been aligned on Ida but otherwise have not been processed. NASA / JPL / Emily Lakdawalla