• Latest
  • Trending
Hubble telescope gives closer look at rare asteroid worth $10,000,000,000,000,000,000

Hubble telescope gives closer look at rare asteroid worth $10,000,000,000,000,000,000

October 30, 2020
First shipment of Moderna vaccine for USFK to arrive Friday: sources

First shipment of Moderna vaccine for USFK to arrive Friday: sources

December 24, 2020
Why North Korea’s Mount Kumgang resort will be ‘envied by the world’

Why North Korea’s Mount Kumgang resort will be ‘envied by the world’

December 23, 2020
China & the West: the New Knowledge War

China & the West: the New Knowledge War

December 23, 2020
Zulkifli: COVID-19 vaccine is permissible

Zulkifli: COVID-19 vaccine is permissible

December 23, 2020
Bangkok schools closed for 12 days to contain outbreak

Bangkok schools closed for 12 days to contain outbreak

December 23, 2020
Swedish Defense Bill Extends Gripen, Adds New AEW Aircraft

Swedish Defense Bill Extends Gripen, Adds New AEW Aircraft

October 19, 2020
Bulgaria protests enter 100th consecutive day as demonstrators denounce widespread corruption

Bulgaria protests enter 100th consecutive day as demonstrators denounce widespread corruption

October 18, 2020
UK’ Sixth-Gen Fighter Jet Will Infuse £25 Billion, 20,000 Jobs Into The British Economy

UK’ Sixth-Gen Fighter Jet Will Infuse £25 Billion, 20,000 Jobs Into The British Economy

October 18, 2020
Japan may skip meeting with S. Korea and China

Japan may skip meeting with S. Korea and China

October 14, 2020
China’s human rights record slammed after UNHRC reelection

China’s human rights record slammed after UNHRC reelection

October 14, 2020
loyalists and reformists clash over Thailand’s monarchy and the ‘playboy’ Rama X

loyalists and reformists clash over Thailand’s monarchy and the ‘playboy’ Rama X

October 14, 2020
Police used ‘excessive force’ during omnibus Jobs Law protests: Activists

Police used ‘excessive force’ during omnibus Jobs Law protests: Activists

October 14, 2020
Friday, February 26, 2021
Sajja News
No Result
View All Result
  • Asia News
    • China
    • North Korea
  • World News
    • Africa
    • Canada
    • Europe
    • Latin America
    • Middle East
    • Russian Federation
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
  • National Security
    • Cyber Security
    • Military
    • Terrorism
      • Islamic State
    • Politics
      • Democracy
      • Free Speech
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Free Market
  • Science
    • Technology
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Books & Literature
    • Education
    • Family
    • Food & Drink
    • Health
    • History
    • Movies & TV
    • Music
    • Privacy
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Women & Children
  • Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Cycling
    • Golf
    • Olympics
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Water Sports
  • Environment
    • Agriculture
    • Climate Change
    • Forests
    • Water & Oceans
    • Wildlife & Endangered Species
  • Asia News
    • China
    • North Korea
  • World News
    • Africa
    • Canada
    • Europe
    • Latin America
    • Middle East
    • Russian Federation
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
  • National Security
    • Cyber Security
    • Military
    • Terrorism
      • Islamic State
    • Politics
      • Democracy
      • Free Speech
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Free Market
  • Science
    • Technology
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Books & Literature
    • Education
    • Family
    • Food & Drink
    • Health
    • History
    • Movies & TV
    • Music
    • Privacy
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Women & Children
  • Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Cycling
    • Golf
    • Olympics
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Water Sports
  • Environment
    • Agriculture
    • Climate Change
    • Forests
    • Water & Oceans
    • Wildlife & Endangered Species
No Result
View All Result
Sajja News
No Result
View All Result

Hubble telescope gives closer look at rare asteroid worth $10,000,000,000,000,000,000

October 30, 2020
in Featured, News, Science
0
Home Featured
Post Views: 74

 

There’s an extremely rare metallic asteroid lurking between Mars and Jupiter, and it’s worth more than the entire global economy. Now, the Hubble Space Telescope has given us a closer look at the object, which is worth an estimated $10,000 quadrillion.

A new study this week in The Planetary Science Journal delves deeper than ever before into the mysteries of the asteroid 16 Psyche, one of the most massive objects in the solar system’s main asteroid belt orbiting between Mars and Jupiter, about 230 million miles from Earth. It measures about 140 miles in diameter — roughly the size of Massachusetts.

Most asteroids are made of rocks or ice. But 16 Psyche is dense and mostly made of metal, possibly the leftover core of a planet that never succeeded in forming — a so-called “protoplanet,” which had its core exposed following hit-and-run collisions that removed the body of its mantle.

The study marks the first ultraviolet (UV) observations of the celestial object. New data reveals the asteroid may be made entirely of iron and nickel — found in the dense cores of planets.

“We’ve seen meteorites that are mostly metal, but Psyche could be unique in that it might be an asteroid that is totally made of iron and nickel,” lead author Dr. Tracy Becker said in a statement. “Earth has a metal core, a mantle and crust. It’s possible that as a Psyche protoplanet was forming, it was struck by another object in our solar system and lost its mantle and crust.”

asteroid-16-psyche.jpg
The massive asteroid 16 Psyche is the subject of a new study by Southwest Research Institute scientist Tracy Becker, who observed the object at ultraviolet wavelengths.MAXAR/ASU/P. RUBIN/NASA/JPL-CALTECH

Scientists studied the asteroid at two points in its rotation in order to view the details of both sides completely at UV wavelengths. They found the surface could be mostly iron, but warned that even a small amount of iron would dominate UV observations.

“We were able to identify for the first time on any asteroid what we think are iron oxide ultraviolet absorption bands,” Becker said. “This is an indication that oxidation is happening on the asteroid, which could be a result of the solar wind hitting the surface.”

Solar wind is the flow of charged particles from the sun’s upper atmosphere, called the corona, throughout the solar system. It’s responsible for the tails of comets as they soar across the sky, the formations of auroras and the possible “space weathering” of Psyche.

Researchers also said the asteroid became more and more reflective at deeper UV wavelengths, which could give some indication of its age.

“This is something that we need to study further,” Becker said. “This could be indicative of it being exposed in space for so long. This type of UV brightening is often attributed to space weathering.”6

Metal asteroids are rare, so Psyche provides researchers with an exciting opportunity to study the inside of a planet. In 2022, NASA plans to launch the unmanned spacecraft Psyche on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket to study the asteroid in an attempt to understand its history and that of similar objects — the first time a mission will visit a body made entirely of metal.

The orbiter is set to arrive at the asteroid in January 2026 to study it for nearly two years. The mission’s leader at Arizona State University estimates that the iron alone on today’s market would be worth $10,000 quadrillion — that’s a one followed by 19 zeroes.

“What makes Psyche and the other asteroids so interesting is that they’re considered to be the building blocks of the solar system,” Becker said. “To understand what really makes up a planet and to potentially see the inside of a planet is fascinating. Once we get to Psyche, we’re really going to understand if that’s the case, even if it doesn’t turn out as we expect. Any time there’s a surprise, it’s always exciting.”

Researchers told CBS News in 2017, when the mission was confirmed, that they don’t plan to take advantage of the value of the asteroid’s composition.

“We’re going to learn about planetary formation, but we are not going to be trying to bring any of this material back and using it for industry,” Carol Polanskey, project scientist for the Psyche mission, said at the time.

Source :
CBS News
Tags: asteroidextremely rare metallic asteroidHubble telescopeJupiterMars
ShareTweetShare
Next Post
Bangkok schools closed for 12 days to contain outbreak

Bangkok schools closed for 12 days to contain outbreak

Translate

Popular Post

First shipment of Moderna vaccine for USFK to arrive Friday: sources
Asia News

First shipment of Moderna vaccine for USFK to arrive Friday: sources

December 24, 2020
0

  U.S. Forces Korea (USKF) is expected to receive the first shipment of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine Friday, sources said. The...

Read more
Top palm oil producer sues green group over deforestation allegations

Sobeys $2B loss a sign of hotly competitive market, says analyst

October 5, 2017
Top palm oil producer sues green group over deforestation allegations

Blurred Lines — China’s competition with US resembles low-level warfare: Gertz

October 5, 2017
Top palm oil producer sues green group over deforestation allegations

German businesses face rising threat of industrial espionage

October 5, 2017
Top palm oil producer sues green group over deforestation allegations

Top palm oil producer sues green group over deforestation allegations

October 5, 2017
  • About Us
  • Creative Commons
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact Us

Topics

Follow Us

About Us

Sajja News is part of Sajja News Media Group LLC, which delivers daily news around the globe.

© 2011 Sajja News

No Result
View All Result
  • Asia News
    • China
    • North Korea
  • World News
    • Africa
    • Canada
    • Europe
    • Latin America
    • Middle East
    • Russian Federation
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
  • National Security
    • Cyber Security
    • Military
    • Terrorism
      • Islamic State
    • Politics
      • Democracy
      • Free Speech
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Free Market
  • Science
    • Technology
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Books & Literature
    • Education
    • Family
    • Food & Drink
    • Health
    • History
    • Movies & TV
    • Music
    • Privacy
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Women & Children
  • Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Cycling
    • Golf
    • Olympics
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Water Sports
  • Environment
    • Agriculture
    • Climate Change
    • Forests
    • Water & Oceans
    • Wildlife & Endangered Species

© 2011 Sajja News