“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).”
NASA Hazardous Asteroids research used large 100mm 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 100mm Baader Bessel R and V filters. The filters were supplied by our US-dealer, Alpine Astronomical.
NASA Hazardous Asteroids research used large 100mm Baader Bessel R filter to successfully image DART impact with the MRO 2.4-meter telescope
Baader UBVRI Bessel V-Filter – photometric (various versions available)
The full range of filters can be found on our webpage: Photometric Filters
If you're interested in these filters for your project, professional or amateur alike, please get in touch with us and we will be happy to help.
