DART Mission Unleashes Swarm of Boulders in Asteroid Collision

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has observed a swarm of 37 boulders that were ejected from the asteroid Dimorphos after the DART spacecraft crashed into it as part of a planetary defense test mission. The impact successfully changed Dimorphos' orbit, bringing it closer to its parent asteroid. The boulders, ranging in size from three to 22 feet, likely flew off the surface of Dimorphos due to the collision. Astronomers hope to gather more data to understand the precise trajectories of the boulders and analyze the impact further with the upcoming Hera probe mission in 2024.