Rusty Discovery: Webb Telescope Finds Iron Oxide on $100 Quadrillion Metal Asteroid
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Reveals Rust on Valuable Asteroid
Recent observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have unveiled an unexpected discovery on the surface of 16 Psyche, a massive metallic asteroid in our solar system. The asteroid, estimated to be worth $100,000 quadrillion due to its abundance of precious rare metals, appears to be rusting.
A study accepted for publication in the Planetary Science Journal details the findings, which include the detection of chemical signatures associated with hydroxyls, bonded oxygen, and hydrogen atoms on Psyche’s surface. These signatures are similar to those found on meteorites containing rust, carbon, and water.
Researchers believe that the hydroxyls may have combined with metal on the asteroid to form rust. This observation could provide valuable clues about Psyche’s origins and the early history of our solar system.
The presence of hydroxyls on Psyche raises intriguing questions about the asteroid’s formation and journey through space. Scientists speculate that these compounds may have arrived via meteorite impacts or originated within the asteroid itself. This suggests that Psyche may have originated outside the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, possibly as a remnant of a planetesimal – one of the building blocks of rocky planets like Earth.
Studying Psyche could offer unprecedented insights into Earth’s core and our planet’s ancient origins. To further investigate this celestial body, NASA launched a spacecraft named Psyche in October 2023, which is expected to reach the asteroid by mid-2029.
The combined data from the James Webb Space Telescope and the Psyche spacecraft may reveal crucial information about the asteroid’s chemical composition and history. This mission has the potential to answer fundamental questions about the formation of our planet and the early solar system.
As scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of 16 Psyche, this rusty revelation serves as a reminder of the countless discoveries waiting to be made in our cosmic neighborhood.
