“Water Molecules Discovered on Asteroid Surfaces, Significantly Advancing Understanding of Solar System Formation and Potential for Life”

Water Molecules Discovered on Asteroid Surfaces, Significantly Advancing Understanding of Solar System Formation and Potential for Life

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists from the Southwest Research Institute have identified water molecules on the surfaces of asteroids, providing valuable insights into the formation of the solar system and the potential for supporting life. This remarkable finding was made possible through the utilization of data from the now-retired Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), a collaborative effort between NASA and the German Space Agency at DLR.

The research team focused their attention on four silicate-rich asteroids and employed the FORCAST instrument on SOFIA to isolate the mid-infrared spectral signatures indicative of molecular water. Their efforts proved successful, as they detected water molecules on two of the asteroids under investigation. This discovery challenges previous assumptions that asteroids are dry and devoid of water.

Dr. Anicia Arredondo, lead author of a Planetary Science Journal paper detailing the findings, explains the significance of water distribution on asteroids. She states, “Asteroids are leftovers from the planetary formation process, so their compositions vary depending on where they formed in the solar nebula. Of particular interest is the distribution of water on asteroids because that can shed light on how water was delivered to Earth.”

The location and composition of asteroids provide crucial information about the distribution and evolution of materials in the solar nebula. Anhydrous, or dry, silicate asteroids form closer to the Sun, while icy materials coalesce farther out. Understanding the distribution of water in our solar system not only offers insights into other solar systems but also guides the search for potential life, both within our own solar system and beyond.

The methodology employed by the scientists involved building upon previous research that successfully detected molecular water on the sunlit surface of the Moon using SOFIA. Encouraged by these findings, they sought to identify the same spectral signature on other celestial bodies. In fact, SOFIA had previously detected water molecules in one of the largest craters in the Moon’s southern hemisphere.

While previous observations had detected hydrogen on both the Moon and asteroids, distinguishing between water and its chemical relative, hydroxyl, proved challenging. However, the team’s research on the asteroids Iris and Massalia confirmed the presence of molecular water. The abundance of water on these asteroids was found to be consistent with that of the sunlit Moon, with water being bound to minerals and adsorbed to silicate.

Although the data from the asteroids Parthenope and Melpomene were inconclusive due to noise interference, the team plans to continue their investigations using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. This state-of-the-art infrared space telescope offers precise optics and a superior signal-to-noise ratio, making it ideal for studying more targets.

Dr. Arredondo reveals their plans for future research, stating, “We have conducted initial measurements for another two asteroids with Webb during cycle two. We have another proposal in for the next cycle to look at another 30 targets. These studies will increase our understanding of the distribution of water in the solar system.”

This groundbreaking discovery of water molecules on asteroid surfaces marks a significant advancement in our understanding of the solar system’s formation and its potential for supporting life. By unraveling the mysteries of water distribution, scientists are not only gaining insights into our own cosmic neighborhood but also paving the way for future explorations and the search for life beyond Earth.