¹L. Shestakova,¹A. Serebryanskiy,¹G. Aimanova
Icarus (in Press) Link to Article [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2023.115595]
¹Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute, Obseravtory, 23, Almaty, 050020, Kazakhstan
Copyright Elsevier

We report on the results of the analysis of spectral observations of the asteroid Didymos at the time of impact of the DART mission probe, obtained a few minutes before, directly at the moment, and within a few minutes after the spacecraft hit the surface of the Dimorphos. We found evidence of alkali metal emissions that appeared at the moment and continued for several minutes after the impact. The observation evidence of the appearance of Na, Li and K atoms as a result of the impact of the DART probe on the Dimorphos in a relative amount close to the abundance of these elements in the Solar System are reliably established. We conclude that the main contribution to alkaline emissions is atoms bound to the dust cloud ejected during the impact. This dust cloud is a steady source of alkaline metal atoms. We did not detect the presence of alkaline mater not bound to the dust cloud and moved independently.