Characterization of the DART Impact Ejecta Plume on Dimorphos from LICIACube Observations

• DOI: 10.3847/psj/ad09ba
• Publication Date: 2023-12-07T13:58:24Z
• Authors: J. D. P. Deshapriya; P. H. Hasselmann; I. Gai; M. Hirabayashi; E. Dotto; A. Rossi; A. Zinzi; V. Della Corte; I. Bertini; S. Ieva; E. Mazzotta Epifani; M. Dall’Ora; S. Ivanovski; D. Perna; T. L. Farnham; M. Amoroso; J. R. Brucato; A. Capannolo; S. Caporali; M. Ceresoli; Nancy L. Chabot; A. Cheng; G. Cremonese; R. T. Daly; E. G. Fahnestock; L. Gomez Casajus; E. Gramigna; G. Impresario; R. Lasagni Manghi; M. Lavagna; J.-Y. Li; M. Lombardo; A. Lucchetti; D. Modenini; M. Pajola; E. Palmer; P. Palumbo; S. Pirrotta; G. Poggiali; A. S. Rivkin; P. Sanchez; G. Tancredi; P. Tortora; F. Tusberti; M. Zannoni; G. Zanotti
• Keywords: Asteroids, DART, planetary defense; Astronomy; Dimorphos; Near Earth Asteroids; DART mission; 0103 physical sciences; QB1-991; Planetary defense; LICIACube mission; 01 natural sciences; Asteroids

Abstract We modeled the geometry and three-dimensional orientation of ejecta cone triggered by impact DART spacecraft on asteroid Dimorphos. used eight LUKE images acquired CubeSat LICIACube that flew Didymos system shortly after impact. These images, which show in both face-on side-on profiles, enabled us to reconstruct inertial space. started our model as a simple with circular base developed it rotated an elliptical best fit data. The axis points R.A., decl. (in J2000): <?CDATA ${147}_{-10^\circ }^{+1^\circ }$?> <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:msubsup> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>147</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> <mml:mo>−</mml:mo> <mml:mn>10</mml:mn> <mml:mo>°</mml:mo> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> <mml:mn>1</mml:mn> </mml:msubsup> </mml:math> , + ${16}_{-6^\circ }^{+4^\circ <mml:mn>16</mml:mn> <mml:mn>6</mml:mn> <mml:mn>4</mml:mn> . is characterized two perpendicular half-angles $\eta ={69}_{-3^\circ },\gamma ={51}_{-11^\circ <mml:mi>η</mml:mi> <mml:mo>=</mml:mo> <mml:mn>69</mml:mn> <mml:mn>3</mml:mn> <mml:mo>,</mml:mo> <mml:mi>γ</mml:mi> <mml:mn>51</mml:mn> <mml:mn>11</mml:mn> rotation ω = 12° around its axis. apex located near center Dimorphos within 15 m. intersection surface (surface enclosed cone) would correspond crater maximum radius about 65 characterization directly related computation momentum enhancement factor ( β ) impact, hence proves crucial need studying impacts context planetary defence scenarios. results this work could potentially be constrain whether took place strength-dominated or gravity-dominated regime. This shows important scientific return defence.