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Masatoshi Hirabayashi

1 articles · 5 co-authors · latest: 2026-01-08

Smashing a moon slowed down the main asteroid

The DART probe's impact with moon Dimorphos caused the main asteroid to spin slower. Measurements showed that Didymos's day lengthened by 0.18 seconds, and the asteroid itself became more flattened. It's the first time a kinetic impactor has reshaped and respun a celestial body.
arXiv:2601.04793v1 · 2026-01-08