As a NASA probe approaches the asteroid Psyche, telescopes are studying it to prepare it for arrival. Data from the James Webb Space Telescope have discovered something completely unexpected on the surface – hydrated molecules and perhaps even water! The origin of the water is the subject of much speculation, perhaps it comes from underground or from chemical interactions with the solar wind!

The asteroid Psyche was discovered in 1852 by Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis. It was named after the Greek goddess of the soul who was born a mortal and married Eros. It has a diameter of 225 km and is one of the most massive objects in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Most asteroids in the belt are made of rock and ice, but Psyche appears to be different, as it is composed largely of metals, possibly the exposed core of a protoplanet that has lost its outer layers. Psyche is of immense interest for exploration as it offers the opportunity to study planetary cores that are normally inaccessible.

The probe launched by NASA, aptly named Psyche, has already begun its 3.5 billion kilometer journey to the asteroid and is scheduled to arrive there in August 2029. With its solar panels extended, the probe measures 25 by 7.3 meters, about the size of a tennis court. It has a mass of 2,747 kg and is powered by five solar panels. Once they arrive at Psyche, they can generate about 3 kilowatts of electricity.

While the probe is underway, telescopes on Earth and in space are studying Psyche. Observations at different wavelengths of light have provided information that supports and reinforces the data collected by the Psyche spacecraft. The study was led by Dr. Stephanie Jarmak of the Southwest Research Institute and her observations confirmed the hydroxyl molecules on the surface.

Data collected by the James Webb Space Telescope showed the telltale signs of hydroxyl, but couldn’t explain where it came from. There are two possible explanations, and we can look to the origin of asteroids to understand them. They are the remnants of planet formation, and their composition is determined by the position in the solar nebula cloud from which they formed. If the hydroxyl formed locally without the influence of external processes, this could suggest that Psyche is not a remnant of a planetary core. It could be that Psyche simply formed at a distance where volatile compounds like water condense and form solids like ice before migrating.

An alternative model explains the variability of the molecular distribution on the surface. This could indicate that impacts of carbonaceous chondrites (commonly found on Earth) could have supplied the observed water molecules.

For now, it looks like we’ll have to wait until the arrival of the Psyche spacecraft in 2029 to solve the mystery. By better understanding the origin of the asteroid Psyche, we can learn more about the distribution of elements in the nebula from which the planets formed. In particular, by learning more about the distribution of water, we can gain greater insight into the origins of life.

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