Asteroid 16 Psyche has puzzled scientists for more than 200 years.
Now, new research suggests that its large craters could hold the key to understanding where it came from—and how planets formed in the early solar system.
Psyche is one of the most unusual objects in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is about 140 miles (226 kilometers) wide and is the largest known metal-rich asteroid.
Scientists think it could be something very special: possibly the exposed core of an early planet that was shattered long ago. But there are other ideas too.
Psyche might instead be a mix of rock and metal formed after repeated collisions, or it may have started out metal-rich from the beginning.
To help solve this mystery, researchers at the University of Arizona used computer simulations to study how a large crater near Psyche’s north pole might have formed.
Their goal was to predict what NASA’s Psyche spacecraft might see when it arrives at the asteroid in 2029.
Large craters act like windows into an asteroid’s interior. When an impact occurs, it digs deep below the surface, bringing hidden material to the top. By studying the size, shape, and structure of these craters, scientists can learn what lies inside.
In their simulations, the team recreated a crater about 30 miles wide and three miles deep. They tested different scenarios, including one where Psyche has a layered structure with a metallic core and a thin rocky outer layer, and another where it is a mixed blend of metal and rock throughout.
Interestingly, both scenarios could produce a crater similar to the one observed. However, the study found that another factor plays a major role: porosity, or how much empty space exists inside the asteroid. Many asteroids are not solid but are instead full of cracks and gaps left over from past collisions.
When an asteroid is porous, it behaves differently during an impact. Instead of sending debris flying far away, it absorbs more of the energy. This leads to deeper, steeper craters and less material being thrown outward.
By including porosity in their models, the researchers were able to make more realistic predictions about what Psyche might look like. These predictions will help scientists interpret data from the spacecraft, including details about crater shapes, surface materials, and variations in density.
The study also highlights how Psyche can act like a “fossil” from the early solar system. Just as archaeologists study ancient ruins to understand the past, scientists can study Psyche to learn how planets formed billions of years ago.
When the Psyche mission arrives, it will measure the asteroid’s surface, gravity, magnetic field, and composition. By comparing these observations with the simulations, scientists hope to finally determine whether Psyche is the exposed core of a lost planet or something entirely different.
Either way, Psyche offers a rare opportunity to look inside a building block of planets—and to better understand the violent processes that shaped our solar system.
Source: KSR.
