NASA Hazardous Asteroids research used large Baader Bessel filters to successfully image DART impact with the MRO 2.4-meter telescope

On the 11th of October 2022 after two weeks of analysis, NASA confirmed that the DART mission impact changed the Asteroid's motion in space. NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART for short, used the kinetic impact of a spacecraft to successfully alter an asteroids orbit.. The mission involved crashing a spacecraft at 14,000 miles per hour into an asteroid , named Dimorphos which was orbiting a larger asteroid Didymos, and measuring the change in orbit to understand the deviation achieved. This is the first time a celestial object motion has been altered on purpose and the first full-scale demonstration, proving asteroid deflection technology to be a success.

In order to view the impact, and to obtain light curve measurements to measure the asteroid deflection achieved, the DART mission team used the Magdalena Ridge Observatory (MRO) 2.4 meter telescope fitted with the 100m Square Baader Bessel R and V filters. The filters were supplied by ourselves, Alpine Astronomical. The observatory director had the following feedback:

“The filters worked exceptionally well and we got terrific images post-impact. (See attached photo in Bessel R)

We couldn’t have done it without your help, and we are very grateful! Such an exciting and successful mission to be a part of (and lots of observing work).”

The Baader UBVRI-V Bandpass filters are suitable from f/15 to f/1.8 suitable for professional research grade observations. Filter size ranges from 1.25" round up to 100x100mm and support classic photometry with transmission according to Bessel. All filters are parfocal with filters of the same size. Other features include advanced ion beam coating technology, Reflex-Blocker™ hard coated and planeoptically polished – with sealed coating edges (Life-Coat™).

The full range of filters can be found at https://alpineastro.com/products/baader-ubvri-bessel-filter-photometric

If you're interested in these filters for your project, professional or amateur alike, please get in touch https://alpineastro.com/pages/contact-us and we will be happy to help.