Scientists have discovered water on asteroids for the first time in history. This was confirmed by a recent study published in the Journal Planetary Science. Astronomers found water in the asteroid belt located around Mars and Jupiter, specifically in the asteroids Massalia, Iris and Jupiter. This discovery provides evidence that the universe is not solely a rocky existence and that water still exists in space. It is believed that some asteroids carrying water may have hit the Earth in the past, resulting in the existence of water on our planet.
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The water on the asteroids was discovered through the SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy Airborne) telescope, which was flown in the stratosphere by a Boeing 747SP aircraft. The infrared rays coming from the asteroid were captured by the telescope. However, these two asteroids are located at a distance of 22.31 million miles from the Sun.
Although the SOFIA telescope is no longer used for research purposes, recent discoveries have encouraged researchers to consider using it again. Maggie McAdam, a NASA researcher, had previously found evidence of hydration in these two asteroids using another telescope. However, the exact cause of this hydration remains unclear, with the chemical compound hydroxyl remaining a mystery. Nonetheless, this recent research provides hope that the source of water in the universe can be uncovered.