For the first time, water has been detected on the surface of asteroids thanks to a NASA mission that is no longer active.
In 2022, NASA concluded a mission that aided scientists in identifying water on the exteriors of two asteroids.
A team of scientists from the Southwest Research Institute utilized information from the decommissioned Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, which was a collaboration between NASA and the German Space Agency at DLR. Their findings, announced through a press release and scientific publication, revealed the presence of water molecules in asteroids. Previous studies had identified traces of hydrogen in these objects, but differentiating between water and its similar chemical compound, hydroxyl, had proven challenging.
Researchers examined four silicate-rich asteroids and discovered that two of them contained molecular water. These particular asteroids form near the sun and studying them can provide insight into the distribution and evolution of materials in space.
The lead author of the Planetary Science Journal paper was Arredondo.
According to Arredondo, the detection of water molecules on asteroids could provide insights into the prevalence of water on Earth. This discovery could also aid in revealing the distribution of water in other solar systems, potentially guiding scientists in their search for extraterrestrial life.
moon
Scientists have also discovered water on the moon.
The moon’s surface.
“There is enough water to fill a 12-ounce bottle in the form of hydrogen molecules within a cubic meter of soil scattered across the moon’s surface. These molecules are chemically attached to minerals, similar to the water found in asteroids. This discovery confirms the presence of ample water in asteroids and suggests that it can be attached to various materials.”
The team led by Arredondo plans to expand their research on water found on asteroids and other solar bodies. They aim to study an additional 30 targets in order to gain a better understanding of the distribution of water in our solar system.
The James Webb Space Telescope is a powerful space telescope that is designed to explore and study the universe.
To examine a few of these objectives.
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Source: cbsnews.com