New research said that the 16 Psyche asteroid, which was assumed to be rich in valuable metals and valued at $10,000 quadrillion, may be more hard rock.
According to experts, the 124-mile-wide space rock, which orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, is the biggest of the M-type asteroids. In contrast to the silicate rocks that make up the majority of asteroids, these are made of iron and nickel.
Researchers published the study, "Porosity Evolution in Metallic Asteroids: Implications for the Origin and Thermal History of Asteroid 16 Psyche," in the Geophysical Research Letters.
Fiona Nichols-Fleming, a PhD student at Brown University, served as the lead author. She collaborated with Brown associate professor Alex Evans and Purdue professors Brandon Johnson and Michael Sori.
An illustration, created in March 2021, of NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, which is targeted to launch to the main asteroid belt in August 2022 to investigate the metal-rich asteroid Psyche.
Asteroid 16 Psyche Isn't Really A Heavy Metal At All
The bulk and density of Psyche convey a different narrative. Psyche's gravity pushes on nearby bodies, indicating that it is significantly less dense than a massive piece of iron should be. If Psyche is entirely made of metal, it must be very porous, like a gigantic ball of steel wool with approximately equal parts empty space and solid metal.
Nichols-Fleming said per SciNews that what they wanted to do with this study was see whether an iron body the size of Psyche could maintain that near-50 percent porosity. According to Nichols-Fleming, they found that it's improbable.
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The researchers developed a computer model based on known metallic iron thermal characteristics to predict how the porosity of a massive iron body would change over time.
According to the study, Psyche's core temperature would have to drop below 800 Kelvin very quickly after creation to stay very porous. Iron would have been so bendable at such temperatures that Psyche's own gravity would have compressed much of the pore space inside its mass. According to the researchers, a planet the size of Psyche-roughly 140 miles in diameter-could not have cooled that fast based on what is known about circumstances in the early solar system.
Furthermore, any event that may have contributed porosity to Psyche after its formation-for example, a big impact-would have likely heated Psyche back up to above 800 K. As a result, any newly introduced porosity was unlikely to endure.
Asteroid 16 Psyche Rocks Hard, Researchers Conclude
According to DailyMail, the findings show that Psyche isn't a porous, all-iron body. More than likely, it has a stony component that reduces its density. But, if Psyche has a rocky component, why does its surface seem to be so metallic from Earth? According to the experts, there are just a few probable reasons.
Ferrovolcanism-iron-spewing volcanoes-is one of these possibilities. According to the researchers, it's plausible that Psyche is a distinct entity with a rocky mantle and an iron core. However, massive ferrovolcanic activity may have pushed substantial portions of Psyche's core to the surface, covering its rocky mantle with iron. Johnson and Evans' previous research has proven that ferrovolcanism is conceivable on Psyche's body.
Whatever the situation may be, astronomers will soon have a better understanding of this mysterious asteroid. NASA intends to launch a spacecraft later this year that will collide with Psyche after a four-year voyage to the asteroid belt.
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