Planetary scientists combined data from the ALMA telescope's 66 radio antennas to create the most detailed yet.
Psyche is the largest and most massive asteroidM-class. It moves in the Asteroid Belt, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Previously it was believed that objects of this type are entirely composed of metals, but recent studies have shown that there are rocky structures in its composition.
In the new work, scientists used ALMA data.The telescope measures the light emitted by an object in the millimeter wavelength range. Each antenna is sensitive to temperature and certain electrical properties of surface materials. Planetary scientists used modeling to see which surface properties could best match and explain the emission measured by ALMA.
On the left are the properties of the surface of Psyche:from sandy areas (purple/low) to rocky areas (yellow/high); on the right is the abundance of metals: from low (purple) to high (yellow). Source: MIT
The surface of an asteroid, as shownmodeling, covered with a variety of materials. It is indeed rich in iron, but the content of metals and silicates varies throughout the surface. This, scientists believe, supports the theory that the asteroid had a silicon-rich mantle at the beginning of its formation, which has since disappeared.
In addition, the researchers found craters,containing metallic material. The discovery, scientists say, supports the hypothesis that the asteroid experienced early metallic lava eruptions as its ancient core cooled.
Researchers believe new data will helpNASA in setting goals for the exploration mission to be launched this year. The ship "Psyche" will go to the asteroid of the same name and spend about two years studying its structure and evolution.
The surface of Psyche is very heterogeneous.This is an evolved surface, and our maps confirm that metal-rich asteroids are interesting and mysterious worlds. This is another reason to look forward to the Psyche mission, which will go to the asteroid.
Saverio Cambioni, researcher in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, co-author of the paper
Cover image: NASA, Peter Rubin
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