Water Molecules Detected on Asteroids: Supporting Early Earth Delivery Theory
In a groundbreaking discovery, water molecules have been detected on the surface of asteroids for the first time, challenging the notion that these celestial bodies are merely dried-up space rocks. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of the origins of water on Earth and the role that asteroids may have played in delivering essential elements to our planet during its early formation.
The study, published in The Planetary Science Journal, utilized data collected from the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), an airborne telescope mounted on a modified Boeing 747SP aircraft. SOFIA’s infrared capabilities allowed astronomers to detect water molecules on two asteroids, Iris and Massalia, located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Dr. Anicia Arredondo, the lead study author and a research scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, explained that the inspiration for studying asteroids came after SOFIA detected evidence of water on the moon. Dr. Maggie McAdam, a research scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center, had previously found signs of hydration on Iris and Massalia using a different telescope. However, it remained uncertain whether the hydration was due to water or another molecular compound.
“Our new observations with SOFIA definitively said that what they saw was indeed water,” stated Dr. Arredondo. This confirmation is significant because these asteroids belong to the S-class, which were previously believed to be completely dry and composed mainly of silicates.
The amount of water detected on the asteroids was comparable to a 12-ounce bottle of water trapped within a cubic meter of soil. This finding aligns with SOFIA’s previous discovery of water on the moon’s surface. Water on asteroids can be bound to minerals or adsorbed to silicate, as well as trapped or dissolved in silicate impact glass.
Asteroids are remnants from the early formation of our solar system, and studying their compositions provides valuable insights into their origins. Dr. Arredondo explained that different materials formed at varying distances from the Sun during the solar system’s formation. This disparity in distance resulted in inner planets like Earth and Mars being composed of rock, while outer planets like Neptune and Uranus consist of ice and gas.
The detection of water on Iris and Massalia suggests that these asteroids formed far enough away from the Sun to retain their water, avoiding its evaporation due to heat. This finding contributes to our understanding of the history and formation of these specific asteroids.
To further explore the distribution of water across the solar system, the researchers attempted to detect water on two other asteroids using SOFIA. However, the detection was too faint. As a result, they are now utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to focus on different asteroids and search for water signatures.
Although the JWST observations are ongoing, Dr. Arredondo expressed optimism about the preliminary results, which have prompted the team to request time to observe an additional 30 asteroids using this powerful infrared telescope. The JWST’s larger size and higher data collection quality will enable a more comprehensive study of water signatures and provide valuable insights into the composition of various types of asteroids.
Dr. Arredondo hopes to uncover trends between the amount of hydration and asteroid composition, particularly comparing carbon-rich asteroids like Bennu (visited by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission) with silicate-rich asteroids. This investigation could shed light on whether carbon-rich asteroids possess significantly more water or if the amounts are similar.
The discovery of water on asteroids challenges our previous assumptions about these celestial bodies and their potential role in delivering water and other essential elements to early Earth. By utilizing advanced telescopes like SOFIA and JWST, astronomers are unlocking the secrets of our cosmic neighborhood and gaining a deeper understanding of the origins of life-sustaining resources.
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