In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have identified water molecules on the surface of asteroids for the very first time. Leveraging data from the retired Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), researchers from Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) utilized the advanced FORCAST instrument to examine four silicate-rich asteroids.
Their analysis revealed mid-infrared spectral signatures indicative of molecular water on two of the asteroids, Iris and Massalia. Dr. Anicia Arredondo, lead author of a paper in The Planetary Science Journal, emphasized the significance of this finding in understanding the origins and distribution of water in our solar system.
Asteroids, remnants of the planetary formation process, exhibit diverse compositions depending on their location in the solar nebula. Dry silicate asteroids form closer to the sun, while those farther out contain icy materials. Unraveling the distribution of water on asteroids offers invaluable insights into the history of our solar system and the potential for life beyond Earth.
Drawing inspiration from previous successes, including the detection of water on the moon’s surface, the team deployed SOFIA to identify similar spectral signatures on asteroids. While initial observations of the moon had detected hydrogen, distinguishing between water and its chemical relative, hydroxyl, remained a challenge until now.
The data, equivalent to finding a 12-ounce bottle of water per cubic meter of soil on the moon, indicates a comparable abundance of water on asteroids. This water may exist in various forms, from being bound to minerals to being trapped or dissolved in impact glass.
Despite encountering noise in the data from asteroids Parthenope and Melpomene, the team remains optimistic, planning further investigations using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. With its superior optics and signal-to-noise ratio, the telescope holds promise for unraveling more mysteries surrounding water distribution in the solar system.
As the quest for knowledge continues, these findings pave the way for a deeper understanding of our cosmic neighborhood and potentially expand the search for life beyond our planet.
