Researchers at the University of Arizona discovered that the origin of the asteroid 16 Psyche is very different from what it was originally believed to be. A study says that the asteroid may not be as metallic or dense as presumed, but a pile of debris, like the smaller asteroid Bennu discovered in September 1999. David Cantillo, undergraduate university student conducted this study. It has been published in the peer-reviewed journal, The Planetary Science.
Earlier, it was predicted that 16 Psyche is a rocky core of a small planet that could not form in the initial days of the solar system. Also, it was believed that the rock could contain 95 per cent metal, which made it a denser body full of iron, nickel and gold. There was a possibility that the asteroid contained metal worth $10,000 quadrillion, which could make everyone on earth billionaire.
However, the new study has claimed that it is a more porous rubble pile consisting of 82.5% metal, 7% low-iron pyroxene and 10.5% carbonaceous chondrite delivered by the impact created from other asteroids. An alternative expectation is that the nearly 114 miles wide asteroid could also have a bulk density or as much as 35% empty space inside. This is believed to be just 1% of all material in the asteroid belt.
“That drop in metallic content and bulk density is interesting because it shows that 16 Psyche is more modified than previously thought,” David Cantillo said. “Psyche as a rubble pile would be very unexpected, but our data continues to show low-density estimates despite its high metallic content,” Cantillo added.
According to Cantillo, the data shows “low-density estimates” despite the “high metallic content” of the asteroid. This indicates that it was possibly exposed to collisions with other asteroids that contained carbonaceous chondrites.
“Having a lower metallic content than once thought means that the asteroid could have been exposed to collisions with asteroids containing the more common carbonaceous chondrites, which deposited a surface layer that we are observing,” Cantillo stated.
16 Psyche is still valuable to researchers who hope to learn more about what they believe to be the remains of a long-ago planet.
To investigate further, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is sending a mission to the asteroid next year in August. It is expected to arrive in early 2026. During the mission, the researchers will study the body of the asteroid from close range to learn more about the processes that helped form terrestrial planets.
