New research has revealed that an asteroid named “the baby of Lucy” is only around 2 to 3 million years old. This asteroid was discovered in November by a NASA spacecraft and orbits another asteroid called Dinkinesh. Researchers at Cornell University used novel statistical calculations based on dynamics to estimate the age of the asteroid named Selam, which complements traditional methods such as analyzing surface craters.
This new method is more versatile and does not require expensive spacecraft for close-up images, making it valuable information about the formation and evolution of binary systems. Binary asteroids like Selam and Dinkinesh are complex objects that engage in a tug-of-war due to gravity and radiation from the Sun. The researchers calculated that Selam formed from surface material ejected by Dinkinesh and reached its current state after around 3 million years.
The age estimation method can be applied to other binary systems with well-characterized dynamics, providing valuable insights into their formation and evolution. The age of the asteroid Selam is younger than the fossil of the human ancestor it is named after, a 3-year-old girl found in Ethiopia that is 3.3 million years old. This suggests continuous creation of binary asteroid systems and contributes to our understanding of the dynamics of these fascinating objects.
NASA’s mission Lucy, set to study Trojan asteroids in Jupiter’s orbit in 2027, will further advance our knowledge of the solar system. The researchers at Cornell University now aim to apply their method to other binary systems and contribute to the field of asteroid research.
In conclusion, a new study has revealed that an asteroid named “the baby of Lucy” is only between 2 and 3 million years old. This discovery provides valuable information about the formation and evolution of binary systems, which are complex objects that engage in a tug-of-war due to gravity and radiation from the Sun. The researchers at Cornell University developed a new method using novel statistical calculations based on dynamics to estimate the age of an asteroid named Selam, which complements traditional methods such as analyzing surface craters.
This new method is more versatile than traditional methods as it does not require expensive spacecraft for close-up images, making it valuable information about binary systems with well-characterized dynamics.
The age estimation method can be applied to other binary systems with well-characterized dynamics, providing valuable insights into their formation and evolution.
NASA’s mission Lucy set for Jupiter’s orbit in 2027 will further advance our knowledge of the solar system while contributing to the field of asteroid research.
The discovery suggests continuous creation of binary asteroid systems, contributing significantly to our understanding of the dynamics