There is water everywhere in space, and you know it, but each new confirmation brings new emotions. And what comes from the analysis of data collected by SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy), operational between 2014 and 2022, is of extraordinary importance. Traces of this fundamental element for life were in fact found for the first time on the surface of an asteroid. All true, and described in a study published in the journal The Planetary Science Journal (that I link to you here).
Water, love and Psyche
The protagonist of this discovery is 16 Psyche. Things? Nothing, an asteroid. A celestial body approximately 220 kilometers in diameter located in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter. Analysis of infrared data collected by SOFIA revealed the presence of a spectral signature compatible with water present on the surface.
“This discovery is truly exciting,” commented Dr Anicia Arredondo from the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). She is the lead author of the study.
The water molecules identified on the surface of 16 Psyche may have been transported by comets or other asteroids. Or they could be the result of chemical reactions that occurred within the asteroid itself.
Anicia Arredondo
New awareness
The discovery of water on an asteroid opens up new fascinating scenarios on the formation of planets and the possibility that life could also exist outside of Earth.
“SOFIA data helps us better understand the composition of asteroids and provides us with valuable clues about their evolutionary history,” added Dr. Arredondo.
What this discovery means, in brief
- The discovery of water on an asteroid opens up new fascinating scenarios on the formation of planets and the possibility that life could also exist outside of Earth.
- SOFIA data helps us better understand the composition of asteroids and provides us with valuable clues about their evolutionary history.
- The discovery of water on a metallic-type asteroid suggests that water may be more widespread in the Universe than previously thought.
Water on the surface of asteroids, next steps
- Researchers will continue to study 16 Psyche and other asteroids to look for further evidence of water.
- Il James Webb Space Telescope, launched in 2021, could provide even more precise data on the composition of 16 Psyche and other asteroids.
- The discovery of water on an asteroid is a major breakthrough in our understanding of the Universe and could have significant implications for the search for extraterrestrial life.
