[ad_1]
Distant cousin
The rocks at the surface of Ryugu, the far-distant asteroid currently explored by the Japanese space probe Hayabusa-2, have a striking resemblance to the rocks of meteors that crashed on Earth.
According to a team of European and Japanese scientists analyzing the recently published photos, MASCOT, Hayabusa-2 robotic lander, was taken from the surface of the asteroid in October 2018, Gizmodo reports. Since the asteroid is believed to contain materials from the early days of our solar system, the astonishing similarity of this dustless asteroid to the rocks found on Earth could have enormous implications for understanding our planet's past.
Big plans
Some of the rocks resemble carbonaceous chondrite meteors that were discovered on Earth after a crash-crash, according to the team's research, published in the newspaper Science Friday.
Carbonaceous chondrites are among the oldest known rocks in the solar system, but the samples here on Earth have been altered as they passed through the atmosphere. When Hayabusa-2 brings back samples to Earth, scientists will finally have the opportunity to study space rocks in their original form.
"What we have in these images, is really how rocks and materials are distributed on the surface of this asteroid, what is the history of their aging, and the geological context," he said. said Rolf Jaumann of the German Aerospace Center. Gizmodo. "This is the first piece of information about this type of material in its original environment."
READ MORE: An unprecedented close-up view of the asteroid shows surprisingly familiar rocks[[[[Gizmodo]
More about Hayabusa-2: A Japanese probe returns to the site of the asteroid bombardment, takes pictures
[ad_2]
Source link