Not all that: Asteroid 16 Psyche may not be as metallic or dense as first thought, finds study

A new study by researchers at the University of Arizona (UArizona) suggests that the origin of the asteroid 16 Psyche could be different from what was believed. The new study also indicates that the asteroid may not be as metallic or dense as everyone has initially believed. The study was conducted by David Cantillo, an undergraduate student of UArizona. It has been published in the peer-reviewed journal The Planetary Science. The study states that 16 Psyche has 82.5 percent metal, seven percent low-iron pyroxene, and 10.5 percent carbonaceous chondrite which was delivered by the impact created from other asteroids. It was initially believed that 16 Psyche was an exposed iron core of a small planet that could not form in the initial days of the solar system.[caption id="attachment_9716741" align="alignnone" width="1024"]

An artist’s concept of asteroid 16 Psyche.Maxar/ASU/P.Rubin/NASA/JPL-Caltech[/caption]The research now suggests that 16 Psyche has a 35 percent porosity which is the empty space within its body. The current findings contradict the previous observations that said that as much as 95 metals could be present in the asteroid.Speaking about 16 Psyche, Cantillo said that the new findings indicate that the asteroid was possibly exposed to collisions with other asteroids containing carbonaceous chondrites.The publication further mentions that there is a possibility that 16 Psyche could be close to a rubble pile like the Bennu asteroid."Psyche as a rubble pile would be very unexpected, but our data continues to show low-density estimates despite its high metallic content," Cantillo said.Using sunlight reflecting from the asteroid's surface, previous estimates were made of the asteroid's 16 Psyche's composition and the light pattern matched that of other metallic objects.According to a press release, the researchers recreated 16 Psyche's regolith which is the loose rocky material on its surface. They did this by mixing different materials together in a lab and analysing the light patterns until they matched the telescope observations made of the asteroid.The UArizona researchers will now look into finding water content on the asteroid's surface. They said they will do this by merging data obtained from spacecraft missions to other asteroids and ground-based telescopes. We will have to wait and see if they do find the water or no.

About Psyche mission