In a recent research finding, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has revealed that asteroid 16 Psyche, situated between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, could solely be made of metals. The value of this vast metallic reservoir is estimated to be staggering 10,000 quadrillion US dollars. This article will provide in-depth details about the fascinating asteroid and the latest discoveries related to it.
About Asteroid 16 Psyche
Asteroid 16 Psyche lies at an astonishing distance of 370 million kilometers from Earth, existing between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. With a substantial diameter of 140 miles, it’s quite massive for an asteroid. Annibale de Gaspard, an Italian astronomer, discovered this celestial body back in 1853. Referencing ancient Greek mythology, he named the asteroid after Psyche, the goddess of the soul.
Fascinatingly, unlike the usual compositions of rocks or ice found in most asteroids, Psyche tends to be quite unique as scientists suspect that it is primarily composed of metal. They believe it is the core remnant of a planet that failed to fully form. Shaped like a potato, Psyche takes roughly five Earth years to complete one orbit of the sun, while it rotates once on its axis in slightly over four hours.
Latest Discoveries Regarding Psyche
The Hubble Space Telescope, launched into low Earth orbit in 1990, provided key insights through ultraviolet observations into the true nature of Psyche’s composition. These findings suggest that Psyche could possibly be a distinct asteroid made almost entirely of iron and nickel, similar to the core of the Earth. In terms of monetary value, the iron content alone would be worth more than an astounding 10,000 quadrillion US dollars.
Interestingly, researchers observed that the way Psyche reflected ultraviolet light bore a striking similarity to the reflection of sunlight by iron. This has further reinforced the hypothesis of its metallic composition.
NASA’s Psyche Mission
With the objective to explore this metallic asteroid, NASA is preparing to launch its Psyche mission in 2022. This will be the pioneer mission aimed at investigating such a celestial object. The spacecraft is expected to make its landing on the asteroid in early 2026.
The study of Psyche is not only intended to confirm the assumptions about its composition but also to provide greater knowledge about Earth’s history. As the composition of Psyche mirrors that of our planet’s core, studying it could elucidate Earth’s turbulent history of collisions and accretion. Hence, the Psyche mission holds great promise to enhance our understanding of our own planet as well as the mysteries of the universe at large.