(a) Back-scattered electron (BSE) image of Ryugu A0058-2 thin section. Each black area consists of ~20 measured NanoSIMS maps. (b) An area in section C0002 with less altered lithology than the surrounding Ryugu matrix (“clast 1”; BSE image). This area contains Mg-rich olivine, low-Ca pyroxenes, and spinel grains with sizes up to ~15 μm (Kawasaki et al. 2022). Two of the three anomalous O grains identified at Ryugu, including a probable presolar silicate (g)-(h), were found in this region. (c)–(e) Secondary electron (SE) image of a Ryugu particle pressed onto gold foil in which two presolar SiC grains were detected. The anomalous regions C, indicated by the white arrows, are clearly associated with 28Yes access points. (F) 17O-rich presolar oxide found in the Ryugu A0058-2 matrix. (g)–(h) This anomalous presolar grain of O was found in the least altered area shown in (b). The entry in (g) shows a δEighteenO sigma image in which each pixel represents the number of standard deviations from the mean values. The grain is probably a presolar silicate since Si is present on the EDX map, and Al was not detected on either the EDX map or the NanoSIMS ion image, unlike the adjacent spinel (MgAltwoEITHERfour), purple in (h). credit: astrophysical journal letters (2022). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ac83bd
An international team of researchers studying dust samples recovered by the Hayabusa-2 space probe have discovered that some of its dust grains are older than the solar system. In his article published in astrophysical journal lettersthe group describes their analysis of the asteroid’s dust and what they found.
The Hayabusa-2 space probe began its mission in 2014 when it was launched into space aboard an H-IIA 202 rocket. It rendezvoused with near-Earth asteroid 162173 Ryugu four years later. After circling the asteroid for two years, he descended to its surface and took a sample of its surface dust. She then took off and returned to Earth.
Ryugu is located 300 million kilometers from Earth and revolves around the sun every 16 months. It has been described as little more than a set of gravel, probably made from the debris of various other asteroids. Other research has shown that it probably formed in the outer part of the solar system and has been creeping in ever since; still others suggest your dust tracks before the possibility that the water of the Earth comes from a similar asteroid.
Since the dust sample collected by the probe returned to Earth, parts of it have been passed around the world to different researchers eager to test it in different ways. In this new effort, the researchers sought to determine their age: They noted that different types of grains in asteroids like Ryugu originated from different types of stars and stellar processes. The age of the grains in your powder can be identified and dated by their isotopic signatures.
Studying the Ryugu dust sample, the researchers compared it to grains found in carbonaceous chondrite meteorites that have been found on Earth. They point out that only 5% of such meteorites host grains that predate the creation of the solar system, some dating back 7 billion years. The researchers found that the dust sample contained grains identical to all others seen in meteorites, showing that it also predates the Solar system. They point out that one in particular, a silicate known to be very easily destroyed, must have been protected in some way from sun damage.
Jens Barosch et al, Presolar Stardust on Asteroid Ryugu, astrophysical journal letters (2022). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ac83bd
© 2022 Science X Network
Citation: Dust grains from asteroid Ryugu older than our solar system (2022, Aug 18) Retrieved Aug 19, 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-08-grains-asteroid-ryugu-older- solar.html
This document is subject to copyright. Other than any fair dealing for private study or research purposes, no part may be reproduced without written permission. The content is provided for informational purposes only.
