Dactyl is a small natural satellite of the asteroid 243 Ida. It was discovered by the Galileo spacecraft in 1993 and is notable for being one of the first confirmed asteroid moons.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Dactyl orbits the asteroid 243 Ida, which is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Its discovery provided significant evidence that asteroids can have natural satellites.
Dactyl has an irregular shape, measuring approximately 1.4 kilometers in diameter.
The gravitational interaction between Dactyl and Ida has helped scientists better understand the mass and density of both objects.
Geological features on Dactyl suggest it may be composed of similar materials to Ida, supporting theories about their common origin.