Hubble showed a snapshot of 16 Psyche: an asteroid worth more than the global economy

Hubble showed a snapshot of 16 Psyche: an asteroid worth more than the global economy

The Hubble telescope was finally able to get a clearer image of the 225-kilometer asteroid 16 Psyche, found by scientists in 1852, but still a mystery to them.

As estimated by NASA astronomer Lindy Elkins-Tanton, the cost of all the metals that make up Psyche could reach $ 10,000 square meters if they were delivered to Earth, Forbes reports. At the same time, the world economy last year was estimated at only $ 142 trillion.

The only thing that is known about the asteroid today: its composition is similar to the core of our planet. As the magazine «Profile» writes, this means that Psyche may be the remnant of another planet — similar to the Earth, but for some reason not fully formed.

Hubble's ultraviolet observations are providing new, more complete views of the massive, metallic asteroid Psyche. Studying Psyche might help us learn more about the cores of planets! From @SwRI: https://t.co/tP9I58CV9G

(Image courtesy of Maxar / ASU / P. Rubin / NASA / JPL-Caltech) pic.twitter.com/03DrkP06WW

— Hubble (@NASAHubble) October 26, 2020

As Tracy Becker of the American Southwest Research Institute explained, the asteroid is unique in that it consists of iron and nickel. Such «metallic» asteroids are very rare in the solar system.

Becker hopes that by studying Psyche more thoroughly, researchers will have a unique chance to learn more about the interior of the planet.

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