Assess possible northward boulder ejection from Bodhran and its effect on momentum balance

Ascertain whether boulders were ejected northward from the vicinity of the Dimorphos surface boulder Bodhran during the DART impact and quantify their momentum to evaluate whether they partially cancel the predominantly south‑directed momentum carried by the measured southern boulder cluster.

Background

The analysis of 104 tracked boulders indicates a strong asymmetry, with most momentum carried by a southern cluster likely originating from the fragmentation of the Atabaque boulder. The authors note that if a comparable northern population existed from the breakup of Bodhran, it would lie within an observational exclusion zone and thus remain undetected.

This uncertainty directly affects estimates of Dimorphos’ post‑impact orbital inclination and rotational state, since any unaccounted northward momentum could mitigate the inferred southward recoil.