Ida Images
Below is a collection of images of Ida and its satellite, 1993 (243) 1, which were taken by the SSI instrument.
Ida Images
At the bottom is a single image showing Ida and its satellite. This was taken from a range of 10,870 kilometers, just 14 minutes before the Galileo's closest approach to Ida.
The insert is the best image of Ida's satellite. It was taken from a range of 3,900 km just 4 minutes prior to the spacecraft's closest approach to Ida. The satellite is approximately egg shaped, measuring 1.2 x 1.4 x 1.6 km.
The discovery of Ida's satellite was delayed due to delays in data playback. All the data was acquired on August 28, 1993, and placed on the spacecraft tape recorder; but until the data playback resumed in February 1994, there was no hint of the surprise discovery.
In the middle is a collage of images taken during Galileo's approach showing the different faces of Ida as it rotated on its axis. By using the entire collection of images acquired during the encounter of Ida, the size and shape of this very irregular, croissant-shaped body can be determined accurately.
At the very top is an image of the limb of Ida taken 46 seconds after closest approach. It is the highest resolution image of an asteroid surface ever taken showing details at a scale of 25 meters per pixel. Since Ida's exact location was not well known prior to the Galileo flyby, the chances of capturing Ida on the 15 frame mosaic centered around closest approach was estimated to be 50%. Fortunately, this frame did capture part of the sunlit side of Ida.
Data from the NIMS, PPR, MAG, as well as, other participating instruments were retrieved and will be used by the science community to develop a comprehensive characterization of Ida and its satellite.