Psyche Asteroid Crater May Reveal Exposed Planetary Core

Researchers at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory are utilizing simulations of a massive crater on the asteroid 16 Psyche to determine the object’s origin. The study, published in JGR Planets, focuses on how a large impact basin near the asteroid’s north pole formed, which may reveal whether Psyche is the exposed core of a lost planet or a different type of celestial body.

Psyche is the 10th-most massive asteroid in the main belt located between Mars and Jupiter. Measuring approximately 140 miles in diameter, it is recognized as the largest known object composed primarily of metal.

The Mystery of 16 Psyche’s Composition

Since its identification over two centuries ago, the exact formation of 16 Psyche has remained a central question in planetary science. Because of its metallic nature, scientists have proposed several competing theories regarding its history:

• It may be a remnant of an early planet that was torn apart by massive collisions, leaving behind an exposed planetary core.
• It could be a fragment of a once-layered body that lost its outer rocky shell.
• The asteroid may have formed as a metal-rich object from the start.
• It may have become a mixture of rock and metal through repeated impacts with other asteroids.

Each of these scenarios offers a different perspective on how planets formed during the early stages of the Solar System.

Simulating the North Pole Impact

To distinguish between these theories, the University of Arizona team employed Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics code to simulate the creation of a massive crater near Psyche’s north pole. The simulations modeled an impactor striking the surface at a 45-degree angle.

A primary focus of the research is the asteroid’s internal porosity, which refers to the amount of empty space within the body. By analyzing how the crater formed, researchers believe the porosity may provide the key to understanding the asteroid’s internal makeup.

The resulting data from these simulations provide predictions that will allow scientists to interpret actual observations once a spacecraft reaches the asteroid.

NASA’s Psyche Mission Timeline

The findings from the University of Arizona study are designed to complement the upcoming NASA Psyche mission. The spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at the asteroid in 2029.

The mission’s primary goal is to uncover the origin of the asteroid. By combining the spacecraft’s direct observations with the predictive models of crater formation and porosity, scientists aim to settle the long-standing mystery of whether Psyche is a lost planetary core.