Scientists at the Southwest Research Institute are using telescopes to observe asteroid Psyche in the infrared, providing context for NASA’s upcoming Psyche mission. Dr. Stephanie Jarmak uses the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to search for traces of water on Psyche’s metallic surface, and Dr. Anisia Arredondo uses some of the latest data collected by the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) to conduct research. The differences in Psyche’s composition are at different points on its surface.

About 140 miles in diameter, Psyche is one of the largest objects in the main asteroid belt orbiting between Mars and Jupiter. Initial observations indicate that Psyche is a dense, mostly metallic object believed to be the remnant of the core of a collapsed planet. NASA plans to launch the Psyche spacecraft on October 5, which will travel 2.2 billion miles and arrive at the asteroid in August 2029.

SwRI Space Sciences Department team leader Dr. “The SwRI-led research, using telescopes with different wavelengths of infrared light, will provide different but complementary information to what the Psyche spacecraft was designed to study,” said Tracy Becker.

Psyche remains somewhat mysterious, as some earlier observations have been controversial; For example, it shows the variability of its surface composition and hydration signatures on its surface in the near-infrared wavelength range.

“Our JWST observations were designed to determine whether water exists on Psyche,” Yarmak said. said. “Observations in the 3 and 6 micron wavelength ranges tell us whether hydration exists in the hydroxyl form or in the true water form. And if we don’t find it, it wouldn’t be surprising, given that Psyche is considered a predominantly metallic world.”

Psyche is a particularly interesting target because the Earth is believed to have a metallic core, but it is buried deep in its mantle and crust and is not available for direct examination.

“To better understand whether Psyche is a differentiated asteroid or the remnant core of a protoplanet, we used SOFIA to scan the asteroid in infrared as it orbited,” Arredondo said. “If so, repeated impacts would destroy all outer layers, leaving only the metal core. But these effects can also lead to variability. But observations show that Psyche is a metal – which is not surprising – and at least in the spin at mid-infrared wavelengths “We’re not seeing a lot of change.”

Metallic asteroids are relatively rare in the solar system, and scientists believe Psyche may provide a unique opportunity to see the planet’s interior. But Psyche is so unusual that it may also surprise scientists and offer a different story about how objects in the Solar System formed.

“All observations using different methods continue to show us results that do not make sense in context with each other,” Arredondo said. “That’s why it’s so important that we have a mission there now.” Source