Space is the biggest plethora of resources, facts, and mysteries. Billions of stars, planets, comets, and asteroid are adrift out there, traveling at speeds so great that one’s imagination could fail.
Among these so many space travelers, there are also 3 asteroids named Itokawa, Bennu, and Ryugu. Without any reason, why are we talking about these three-musketeers? Well, something is shining on Ryugu. What is it? Read on to find out.
THE MYSTERY
Ryugu, Bennu, and Itokawa are a group of 3 asteroids that are held together by their own combined gravities.
To explore more about these asteroids, especially Ryugu, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the Hayabusa2 rocket to Ryugu. The rocket reached Ryugu in 2018.
The images sent back by the rocket startled the researchers as they could see that upon the dull Ryuguian surface, there were multiple stones that were 1.5 percent brighter than the surrounding surface.
Initially, it was thought that these bright rocks had crashed onto the asteroid after its formation a very long time ago.
But upon further investigation, this theory was ruled out as the number of bright rocks indicated that the parent body had to be very big so that upon impact it could become so many pieces.
But then Ryugu itself is not very big and such an impact would have destroyed the entire asteroid.
Researchers are saying that the presence of these rocks can only be explained by assuming that Ryugu’s parent body must have collided with an S-type rock, the same type of rocks that are right now shining on Ryugu. For more on the topic visit www.thedigitalwise.com.
That’s all for today’s space enthusiasts. Do tell us about your views on the origins of these shiny rocks. Till then, may the force be with you!
