Water Ice Discovered On Asteroid For First Time
Water ice has been found on the surface of a nearby asteroid for the first time – a discovery that could help explain how Earth got its oceans, scientists announced.
Two teams of researchers independently verified that the asteroid 24 Themis – a large rock hurtling through space in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter – is coated in a layer of frost.
They also found that the asteroid contains organic material, including some molecules that might be ingredients for life. But scientists have not found any evidence for life itself on this asteroid, or anywhere else in the universe beyond Earth.
“This is the first time we’ve actually seen ice – literally H20 – on an asteroid,” said one of the study leaders, Andrew Rivkin of Johns Hopkins University.
Previously, hints that water might be present on 24 Themis were found in the form of hydrated minerals, which were thought to have formed from the reaction of water with rock. But this time the researchers saw the direct signature of water itself, he explained.
Another science team, led by Humberto Campins of University of Central Florida, found the same thing. Both teams used the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility atop on Mauna Kea in Hawaii to make their observations, but conducted them on different nights.
“Our work and their work are very nicely confirming and complementary,” Campins said.
“To our surprise there was water ice, there were organic molecules, and they were more or less evenly distributed throughout the surface,” Campins told, “We thought that was fascinating.”
Both teams reported their findings in the 19 April 2010 issue of the journal Nature.
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TONY:
May 17th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Thanks This Helped Me !
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latest technology:
June 22nd, 2010 at 10:44 am
Earth is really mysterious. In that discovery some of the question we ask will be unveiled.
jhoyce:
June 25th, 2010 at 9:20 am
anu pu advantage tyaka dis advantage niyan??
kumar:
July 30th, 2010 at 7:49 am
This is the first time we’ve actually seen ice – literally H20 – on an asteroid
Welcome to IFSU Lagawe's Blog » Blog Archive » IT Trends:
October 4th, 2010 at 6:56 am
[...] Water Ice Discovered On Asteroid For First Time [...]
Asheley Forrester:
February 3rd, 2011 at 8:36 am
Exactly! Even I have seen or heard about H2O on an asteroid. It is wonderful to hear about such amazing innovations by experts.
G.L:
March 20th, 2011 at 8:25 am
Such life supporting asteroids will be great for originating a habitat. For other global tech trends visit GloTech.tk
Water Ice Discovered On Asteroid For First Time | PLAYTECH:
May 9th, 2011 at 6:00 pm
[...] Water Ice Discovered On Asteroid For First Time [...]
Magesh:
July 12th, 2011 at 11:33 am
I am interest hear something like this..
Magesh:
July 12th, 2011 at 11:34 am
amazing innovations