News by Levels · Level 2 · Student worksheet

Hera Sends a Close Look at an Asteroid System

Name: __________________________ Date: __________________

Read the story

Europe's Hera spacecraft has photographed the asteroid Didymos and its smaller companion, Dimorphos, from about 60 kilometres away. Didymos is clear in the image, but most of Dimorphos is in shadow.

In 2022, NASA sent its DART spacecraft into Dimorphos to test a way to change an asteroid's path. The collision shortened the smaller asteroid's orbit around Didymos by about 33 minutes.

Hera is preparing to study the aftermath. Its team says detailed images of the two asteroids are planned for November 25. The work could help scientists understand how to protect Earth from a future asteroid threat.

Source: Hera Mission / Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur, 2026-11-05. https://www.heramission.space/

Read and practise

1. What is mostly in shadow in the new image?

   1. Both Didymos and Dimorphos
   2. Dimorphos
   3. Didymos

2. How did the impact change the time Dimorphos takes to orbit Didymos?

   1. It became about 33 minutes shorter
   2. It became about 33 minutes longer
   3. It stayed unchanged

Your turn

Distinguish what the new picture shows clearly from what is mostly in shadow.

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Read online: https://newsbylevels.com/news/hera-close-view-didymos-asteroid-dart-november-2026/level-2/