DART impact may have created the first human meteor shower
Scientists have modeled how debris from NASA's DART mission, which impacted the asteroid Dimorphos in 2022, could eventually reach Mars and Earth.
The study, accepted for publication in The Planetary Science Journal, used simulations to track particles ejected from the asteroid.
Results suggest that smaller meteoroids could reach Mars in as little as seven years, while others may enter the Earth-Moon system in a similar timeframe, although this is more challenging.
These particles pose no threat to Earth but could create the first human-made meteor showers, providing an unprecedented opportunity for future observations and research into planetary defense strategies.
Related DOI
Press review:
- https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Hera/Debris_from_DART_impact_could_reach_Earth
- https://watchers.news/2024/09/07/debris-produced-by-darts-impact-on-dimorphos-could-create-earths-new-meteor-shower/
- https://www.astronomy.com/science/could-we-experience-the-first-ever-human-made-meteor-shower/
- https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/31/science/dimorphos-dart-impact-debris-meteor-shower/index.html