Discovered that a pair of asteroids could reveal

Astronomers have discovered a pair of mysterious asteroids located between Mars and Jupiter, which rotate around each other and exhibit comet-like features.

The two cosmic rocks in the middle of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter are collectively known as 288P , and represent the first known asteroid, while they are also classified as comets. in the main belt.

Two asteroids are almost the same mass and size 60 miles apart.

Scientists have discovered comet-like features that the pair of asteroids show, including a halo of matter and a long dust tail.

The two asteroids that are nearly the same mass and size are 60 miles apart (or about 100km) apart. They are about 1km in size. Many asteroids in the main belt are the same size, however the two asteroids are rotating around each other at a much greater distance than other common asteroids of the same size.

Scientist Jessica Agarwal from the Max Planck Solar Research Institute explained: 'The team has discovered strong signs of ice sublimation due to an increase in heat from the sun - similar to the way but the tail of a comet is created '.

She also noted that the way 288P works is observed by the research team also reveals information about its past. Agarwal, who is also the leader of the study, said the surface ice would not exist in the asteroid ring for billions of years, but they could be protected for billions of years thanks to The heat-resistant dust layer is only a few meters thick.

Therefore, the team concluded that 288P existed as a double asteroid system for about 5,000 years.

A series of photographs of the 288P object that the Hubble Space Telescope captured.

Some characteristics of 288P - such as the separation between the two components, the nearly identical component size, high eccentricity and comet-like activity - make it unique in a few sub-pairs. Double planets in the solar system that we all know.

The fact that 288P is very different from all the pair of double asteroids we already know. This raised the question of whether it was a coincidence when it had such unique characteristics.

According to Ms. Agarwal, we need more research on theory and practical observations, as well as more objects like 288P to be able to find answers.

Understanding the origin and evolution of comets in the main belt is crucial to our understanding of the formation and evolution of the entire Solar System.

For example, deeper insights into major belt comets can help answer the question of how water has appeared on Earth.

Because in fact, we only know a few things like this, 288P is a very important representative to carry out future research.

Scientists are difficult to study asteroids, simply because these cosmic rocks are very small and fuzzy.