Precious ‘golden asteroid’ worth $100,000 quadrillion might be rusting as scientists probe rock before 2029 Nasa visit

SCIENTISTS have discovered a unique trait on the metal-rich asteroid Psyche by using the James Webb Space Telescope.

Researchers identified a water component on the mysterious – and priceless – asteroid 16 Psyche , suggesting that hydration exists in the form of rust.

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In 2017, researchers discovered traces of water on Psyche’s surface.

“Spectra from the infrared region, at long wavelengths that we perceive as heat but can’t see,” showed signs of the OH molecule, or hydroxyl units, which form part of water, as reported by Live Science .

Those findings, while inconclusive, suggest that Psyche’s surface may contain small amounts of water, either as ice or hydrated minerals.

Data from the James Webb Space Telescope suggests the hydroxyl unit groups are bound to metal on Psyche’s surface, which causes it to “rust.”

Scientists hypothesizing about the asteroid’s composition led to Nasa’s ongoing Psyche mission.

The Nasa mission to visit the asteroid 16 Psyche launched on October 13, 2023.

Nasa’s Psyche spacecraft took off from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

The spacecraft is expected to reach the asteroid by 2029, allowing scientists to study the rock in-depth.

The mission “aims to find crucial clues about the formation of our solar system’s planets,” as reported by Live Science.

Scientists are particularly interested in learning more about the asteroid Psyche because of its mysterious composition.

Researchers believe its outer metal layers and exposed iron core show signs of being a “failed planet.”

Some hypotheses show that the asteroid could have been the core of a large planet, like Mars , if it hadn’t violently collided with other bodies during the solar system’s formation.

Psyche was first discovered by Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis on March 17, 1852.

He named the asteroid after the Greek goddess of the soul.

What's the difference between an asteroid, meteor and comet?

Here's what you need to know, according to Nasa...

• Asteroid: An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the Sun. Most are found in the asteroid belt (between Mars and Jupiter) but they can be found anywhere (including in a path that can impact Earth)
• Meteoroid: When two asteroids hit each other, the small chunks that break off are called meteoroids
• Meteor: If a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it begins to vapourise and then becomes a meteor. On Earth, it’ll look like a streak of light in the sky, because the rock is burning up
• Meteorite: If a meteoroid doesn’t vapourise completely and survives the trip through Earth’s atmosphere, it can land on the Earth. At that point, it becomes a meteorite
• Comet: Like asteroids, a comet orbits the Sun. However rather than being made mostly of rock, a comet contains lots of ice and gas, which can result in amazing tails forming behind them (thanks to the ice and dust vaporizing)

Psyche is also often referred to as “16 Psyche,” as it was the 16th asteroid to be discovered.

Psyche “lives” in the main asteroid belt, about three times further away from the Sun than Earth .

It has an irregular, potato-like shape, and at its widest and longest points, measures 173 miles wide and 144 miles long.

Despite a surface area of 64,000 square miles, scientists are still learning more about the mysterious asteroid.

Researchers initially believed that the asteroid Psyche consisted mostly of metal.

Major facts about Psyche

It's been over 220 days since 16 Psyche launched.

Here are some facts to keep in mind about it from NASA :

1. Discovered in 1852 by Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis, Psyche snagged the 16th spot on the asteroid identification list. Psyche, the butterfly-winged goddess symbolizing the soul in Greek mythology, is its namesake.
2. Psyche takes a scenic route in the outer realms of the main asteroid belt, chilling between Mars and Jupiter. That’s approximately three times the distance from the Sun compared to Earth.
3. When it comes to shape, Psyche’s vibe is all about the irregular, potato-like aesthetic. Slice it horizontally at the equator, and you’ve got yourself a squashed oval, measuring a whopping 173 miles across at the widest and 144 miles long. That’s one quirky space spud!
4. Psyche’s got it all, weighing in between 212 to 256 pounds per cubic foot. With surface gravity lower than Earth’s or even the Moon’s, lifting a car here feels more like hoisting a hefty dog.
5. Psyche likely sports a hefty metal makeover, courtesy of a planetesimal’s core. Surviving epic cosmic collisions, it’s a living relic of our solar system’s tumultuous infancy.
6. Psyche’s composition isn’t your run-of-the-mill space rock. Think rock-metal fusion, with metals possibly making up a hefty 30% to 60% of its volume. Radar and thermal inertia measurements have helped crack this celestial composition conundrum.
7. Scientists have cooked up a 3D model of Psyche, revealing two crater-like depressions and a kaleidoscope of metal content and color across its surface. But until the Psyche mission swings by for a visit, we’re left guessing about its true appearance. Talk about keeping us on the edge of our cosmic seats!

Recent data, however, indicates that the asteroid is a mix of metal and silicate, a material found in sand and glass.

Researchers believe the asteroid is composed of rock and metal, with metal responsible for 30% to 60% of its volume, as reported by Nasa .

Plus, with the asteroid’s rare metal components valued at over $100,000 quadrillion, many researchers have nicknamed Psyche as a “goldmine” in space.

The number is based on metal value alone, as there is not enough money in the world to reach that estimated sum.

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