Study on Asteroid Ryugu samples highlights differences from primitive meteorites

Study on Asteroid Ryugu samples highlights differences from primitive meteorites
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Dec 12, 2023

In a recent scientific breakthrough, an international team of researchers has provided new insights into the nature and composition of the asteroid Ryugu, enhancing our understanding of water- and carbon-rich celestial bodies within the solar system. This study, pivotal in the field of planetary science, was made possible by analyzing samples returned to Earth by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft, a mission spearheaded by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Asteroids like Ryugu, remnants of planetary embryos that did not develop into larger bodies, serve as invaluable sources for studying materials from the early solar system. The focus of the study was on laboratory measurements of these samples, which were carefully returned by Hayabusa2 in 2020. This mission aimed not only to reveal Ryugu's true nature but also to enhance our understanding of how meteorites can inform telescopic observations of other hydrous asteroids.

A distinguishing feature of the Ryugu samples is their pristine condition, having avoided terrestrial alteration-interaction with Earth's oxygen and water. This aspect sets them apart from meteorites originating from similar hydrous asteroids, which typically undergo some degree of alteration upon entering Earth's atmosphere.

The research team employed reflectance spectroscopy, a crucial technique that bridges laboratory analyses of meteorites with astronomical observations of asteroids. This method was used to compare the unaltered Ryugu samples with meteorites that had experienced terrestrial weathering. Remarkably, the team developed analytical procedures that circumvented exposure to Earth's atmosphere, thereby preserving the original state of the Ryugu samples.

Prior studies posited that Ryugu's sample mineralogy was akin to CI chondrites, considered the most primitive meteorites in chemical terms. Contradicting this, newer findings showed significant differences in the reflectance spectra between Ryugu samples and CI chondrites. The current study further elucidated this by demonstrating that heating CI chondrite samples under reducing conditions at 300 C closely replicated the mineralogy of Ryugu, resulting in similar spectral characteristics.

These findings are transformative in our understanding of the parent bodies of CI chondrites, highlighting the susceptibility of primitive meteorite spectra to terrestrial weathering. The study posits that actual CI chondrite parent bodies may exhibit darker and flatter reflectance spectra than previously assumed.

"This study opens new avenues for understanding the composition and evolution of small bodies in our solar system. By considering the impact of terrestrial weathering on meteorites, we can refine our interpretations of asteroid compositions and advance our knowledge of the solar system's early history," said Kana Amano, a former PhD student at the early Solar System evolution Research Group at Tohoku University and co-author of the paper.

The implications of this research are significant, offering a fresh perspective on the composition and evolutionary history of asteroids like Ryugu. By accounting for the effects of terrestrial weathering, scientists can now interpret asteroid data with greater accuracy, providing a clearer picture of our solar system's formative years. This study not only challenges previous assumptions but also underscores the critical need for unaltered extraterrestrial samples in planetary science research.

Research Report:Reassigning CI chondrite parent bodies based on reflectance spectroscopy of samples from carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu and meteorites