Hayabusa2 reveals asteroid Torifune's snowman shape in close flyby

The Japanese space probe Hayabusa2 performed a close flyby of the near-Earth asteroid Torifune on July 5, 2026, capturing an unexpected image that reveals a bilobed shape resembling a snowman. The flyby, part of a planetary defense demonstration, passed within an estimated 800 meters of the asteroid at over 18,000 km/h, making it one of the closest approaches ever to a near-Earth object.

The flyby

The image, taken by the telescopic optical camera (ONC-T), shows two rounded lobes joined together, a morphology that surprised scientists who previously described Torifune as elongated. Yuya Mimasu, a JAXA scientist, said: "When I saw this image and the scientific data... it really gave me goosebumps" Source: clarin. The probe also used its infrared camera TIR to map surface temperature variations, providing data on thermal inertia and roughness Source: elconfidencial.

Planetary defense implications

This mission follows NASA's 2022 DART test, which altered the orbit of asteroid Dimorphos by impact. Unlike DART, Hayabusa2's goal was extreme navigation precision—essential for future deflection missions. As Patrick Michel of the European Space Agency noted: "If we want to deflect an asteroid by impact, the answer is not the same if the asteroid behaves like a sponge or a very solid material" Source: infobae. The data will improve models for deflecting hazardous objects. The probe continues its extended mission toward asteroid 1998 KY26, expected in 2031.