Scientists have announced for the first time that they have detected water molecules on the surface of an asteroid. Space.com reports: Scientists used data collected by the now-retired Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), a telescope-equipped plane operated by NASA and the German Aerospace Center, to identify four silicate-rich asteroids. researched. Observations by SOFIA's Microastronomical Infrared Camera (FORCAST) instrument show that two of the asteroids, named Iris and Massalia, exhibit specific wavelengths of light that indicate the presence of water molecules on their surfaces, new research shows. Reported.
Although water molecules have previously been detected in asteroid samples brought back to Earth, this is the first time water molecules have been found on the surface of an asteroid in space. In previous research, SOFIA found similar water signatures on the moon's surface, one of the largest craters in the southern hemisphere. […]
The Iris and Massalia discoveries therefore suggest that some silicate asteroids may be able to permanently store some of their water and may be more commonly found in the inner solar system than previously thought. It suggests that there is a sex. In fact, asteroids are thought to be Earth's main source of water, providing the necessary elements for life as we know it. Understanding the distribution of water throughout the universe will help researchers better assess where to look for other forms of potential life, both within and beyond our solar system. The findings were published in The Planetary Science Journal.