Impactful

WHAM! 10 jaw-dropping images capture NASA DART slamming into an asteroid

A boom that could be seen from Earth.

Updated: 
Originally Published: 
NASA/Johns Hopkins APL
Rocky asteroid surrounded by darkness

NASA/Johns Hopkins APL

This week, NASA scientists watched their spacecraft successfully maneuver to a distant asteroid — and slam itself into the rock’s surface.

The most destructive phase of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) is now complete.

Scientists are waiting to see if the spacecraft achieved its goal: throwing the asteroid, Dimorphos, off its orbit around its parent asteroid, Didymos.

NASA/Johns Hopkins APL
Tap