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16 Psyche (/ ˈ s aɪ k iː / SY-kee) is a large M-type asteroid, which was discovered by the Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis, on 17 March 1852 and named after the Greek goddess Psyche. [10] The prefix "16" signifies that it was the sixteenth minor planet in order of discovery.
Asteroid 16 Psyche is the heaviest known M-type asteroid, and may be an exposed iron core of a protoplanet, the remnant of a violent collision with another object that stripped off its mantle and crust. On January 4, 2017, the Psyche mission was selected for NASA's Discovery #14 mission. [9] It was launched atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. [10]
The numbered-circle convention was quickly adopted by astronomers, and the next asteroid to be discovered (16 Psyche, in 1852) was the first to be designated in that way at the time of its discovery. However, Psyche was given an iconic symbol as well, as were a few other asteroids discovered over the next few years.
NASA has launched a spacecraft to study the metal asteroid Psyche to determine whether it’s the exposed core of an early planetary building block.
Nasa has launched its Psyche craft into space, on a mission to study an ancient, metallic asteroid. It is aimed at an asteroid, also called Psyche, where it will arrive in 2029 and hopes to look ...
An independent review board gave NASA’s Psyche mission the green light and its seal of approval following a scathing review in 2022. The Psyche mission, which will head to the asteroid belt, was ...
First asteroid discovered from space; source of Geminids meteor shower. 3753 Cruithne: 5: October 10, 1986: Unusual Earth-associated orbit 4179 Toutatis: 4.5×2.4×1.9: January 4, 1989: Closely approached Earth on September 29, 2004 4769 Castalia: 1.8×0.8: August 9, 1989: First asteroid to be radar-imaged in sufficient detail for 3D modeling ...
Parts-per-million chart of the relative mass distribution of the Solar System, each cubelet denoting 2 × 10 24 kg. This article includes a list of the most massive known objects of the Solar System and partial lists of smaller objects by observed mean radius.