All articles tagged with #psyche asteroid
A new study suggests that asteroid Psyche may have had vents spewing molten metal, similar to volcanoes, due to ferrovolcanism driven by its chemical composition, which could explain its metallic sheen. NASA's upcoming Psyche mission will investigate these features further.
Scientists at the Southwest Research Institute are using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) to observe the metallic asteroid Psyche in the infrared. The observations aim to provide context for NASA's upcoming Psyche mission and gather information about the asteroid's composition and the presence of water. Psyche, believed to be the leftover core of a failed planet, is an intriguing target that could offer insights into the formation of solar system objects.
NASA's Psyche probe, set to study the metal-rich asteroid Psyche, is nearing its launch from Kennedy Space Center in October. The mission aims to understand the composition and formation of planets like Earth by exploring one of the rare asteroids made of metal. The probe will travel 2.5 billion miles to reach Psyche, which orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter. Equipped with cameras, a magnetometer, and a gamma-ray spectrometer, the probe will spend 26 months studying the asteroid. The mission, in the works for 12 years, was delayed due to management issues but is now ready for its long-awaited journey.