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… Continue reading ASTEROID 16 PSYCHE MIGHT NOT BE WHAT SCIENTISTS EXPECTED
Tag: Asteroid
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
WE MAY HAVE FOUND THE FIRST-EVER TRACE OF PROTEIN FROM OUTER SPACE IN AN OLD METEORITE
A team of scientists believes they have discovered the first extraterrestrial protein known to humanity. Using a new analysis technique, the researchers claim to have found the out-of-this-world discovery inside a meteorite that fell to Earth some 30 years ago.
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.… Continue reading WHY STUDY ASTEROIDS?