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9mo ago

Webb Telescope Reveals Hydrated Minerals on Asteroid Psyche

New findings suggest Psyche's complex history and potential origins beyond the solar system's 'snow line'.

An SwRI-led team used NASA’s Webb telescope, shown in the bottom right corner of this illustration, to confirm the presence of hydrated minerals on the surface of Psyche, a massive and heavily metallic body in the main asteroid belt. These findings suggest a complex history for this interesting asteroid, which many scientists think could be the remnant core of a protoplanet, including impacts with hydrated asteroids. Credit: Southwest Research Institute

Overview

  • Hydroxyl molecules detected on Psyche hint at the presence of hydrated minerals.
  • The discovery challenges previous models, suggesting Psyche may have formed beyond the 'snow line'.
  • NASA's Psyche mission, launched in 2023, aims to study the asteroid in detail by 2029.
  • The asteroid's surface shows signs of rust, indicating hydroxyls are bonded to metals.
  • Understanding Psyche's composition can provide insights into solar system evolution and water distribution.