A $10,000,000,000,000,000,000 Asteroid.

 

During the mid-19^th century, Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis, working at an observatory in Naples, discovered nine asteroids, among his other credits. His fifth asteroid, Psyche, was only the 16^th known. Although he didn’t realize it at the time, Psyche would become one of the most unique and interesting asteroid discoveries.

Analysis of Pysche revealed it to have a radius of slightly over 70 miles, with an average density revealing it to be made of almost solid iron and other metals. Astronomers believe that it might be the metallic core of a planet that never fully developed. Scientists estimated its commercial value at $10,000 quadrillion. That's $10,000 followed by 15 zeroes.  It is one of the most valuable objects in the Asteroid Belt, assuming we could ever mine it.

Artist rendering of Asteroid Psyche, credit NASA

However, a recent analysis of Psyche hints that it may be slightly less valuable. Given Psyche’s size and mass, astronomers had estimated it to be 95% iron and other metals, giving it that high estimated value. However, a recent NASA spacecraft’s visit to another asteroid caused a team of researchers led by University of Arizona undergraduate student David Cantillo to reevaluate that estimated value. University of Arizona scientists lead the science team for NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission to study another asteroid, Bennu. OSIRIS-REx retrieved a sample from Bennu's surface and is now bringing it back to Earth. Bennu turned out to be a rubble pile. It’s a loose collection of rock and dust held together by gravity but not solid.

As Cantillo’s team assessed the known data on Psyche, they realized that it may also be a rubble pile, and is likely only 82.5% metallic. If true, that would drop its commercial mining value to a “mere” $8700 quadrillion.

I think I’d still stake a claim, if only international law allowed it.

 

Each month, I write an astronomy-related column piece for the Oklahoman newspaper. On the following day, I post that same column to my blog page.

 

This is reprinted by permission from the Oklahoman and www.newsok.com.