ASTEROID 16 PSYCHE MIGHT NOT BE WHAT SCIENTISTS EXPECTED

asteroid 16 psyche

The widely studied metallic asteroid known as 16 Psyche was long thought to be the exposed iron core of a small planet that failed to form during the solar system’s earliest days. But new University of Arizona-led research suggests that the asteroid might not be as metallic or dense as once thought and hints at … Read more

SECRETS OF ASTEROID RYUGU

Ryugu’s interaction with the sun changes what we know about asteroid history. In February and July of 2019, the Hayabusa2 spacecraft briefly touched down on the surface of near-Earth asteroid Ryugu. The readings it took with various instruments at those times have given researchers insight into the physical and chemical properties of the 1-kilometer-wide asteroid. These findings could help expla

WHY STUDY ASTEROIDS?

The scientific interest in asteroids is largely due to their status as the remnant debris from the inner solar system formation process. Because some of these objects can collide with the Earth, asteroids are also important for having significantly modified the Earth’s biosphere in the past. They will continue to do so in the future. … Read more