Stunning New Images of Earth and the Moon Captured by NASA’s Psyche Mission

The Psyche spacecraft is on an exciting journey to a unique metal-rich asteroid named Psyche. Scheduled to arrive in 2029, it recently took some stunning photos of Earth and the Moon from a distance of about 180 million miles (290 million kilometers). These images are part of a routine check to ensure the spacecraft’s cameras are functioning well.

On July 20 and 23, Psyche’s twin cameras captured long-exposure images of our planet and its lunar companion. In these pictures, Earth and the Moon appeared as sparkling dots against a backdrop of stars in the constellation Aries.

The Psyche multispectral imager plays a crucial role in this mission. It has two identical cameras complete with filters and telescopic lenses designed to photograph the asteroid’s surface in various wavelengths of light. The way these surfaces reflect light can tell scientists a lot about their composition. For instance, the Moon and another asteroid, Vesta, have similar spectral patterns. Discovering these patterns at Psyche will provide insights into the formation of rocky planets with metallic cores, including our own Earth.

When choosing celestial targets for calibration, researchers search for objects that reflect sunlight similarly to Psyche. They often select familiar objects to compare with previous data, ensuring accurate observations. Earlier this year, they focused on Jupiter and Mars, which have reddish tones that differ from Earth’s bluer hues. This approach has proven successful so far.

“We’re collecting data from different solar system bodies,” says Jim Bell from Arizona State University, who leads the imager instrument project. “It’s like gathering solar system ‘trading cards’ to ensure our calibration processes are correct.”

The Psyche mission isn’t just about imaging. The team also tested other instruments, including a magnetometer and a gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer, which they check every six months. “Everything is running smoothly,” reported project manager Bob Mase from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. They are on track for a flyby of Mars in May 2026, which will help slingshot the spacecraft toward Psyche.

This flyby marks a significant point in its journey, covering approximately 1 billion miles (1.6 billion kilometers) since its launch in October 2023 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

The mission is a collaborative effort led by Arizona State University and managed by Caltech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Various organizations contribute to different aspects, including Maxar Technologies, which provided the spacecraft’s solar electric propulsion chassis.

The Psyche mission is part of NASA’s Discovery Program, aimed at exploring the solar system and enhancing our understanding of its formation. This mission represents a significant leap in space exploration, shedding light on our planet’s origins and the nature of asteroids. For more insights on this remarkable mission, visit NASA’s Psyche Mission Page.

As we continue to reach for the stars, the Psyche mission offers a glimpse into our solar system’s past and potentially a clearer picture of Earth’s own story.

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Asteroids, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Psyche Mission, The Solar System