San Antonio: Scientists have detected the presence of water molecules on the surface of asteroids for the first time.
Astronomers believe that asteroids that collided with the Earth in its early days led to the presence of water and other elements on the planet, so the search for evidence of the presence of water on asteroids supports this theory, according to the new study. Can give.
The data was collected by experts from the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), a telescope mounted on a modern Boeing 747SP aircraft that flew above the Earth’s atmosphere. of
The Fant Object Infrared Camera (FORCAST) mounted on the SOFIA telescope helped scientists spot water molecules in Iris and Messalia, two planets between Mars and Jupiter. Both the asteroids are located at a distance of 359 million kilometers from the Sun.
Lead author of the study, Dr. Anicia Arridondo, of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, said that after the telescope spotted water on the moon, astronomers could use it to study asteroids. decided.
The results of the research were published in the journal Planetary Science.
