How an asteroid can fizz like a comet - study
The primary difference between asteroids and comets is that the latter contains lots of different ices, whereas asteroids are mainly made of rock.
Asteroid illustrative (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
The Phaethon asteroid (also known as the 3200 Phaethon) can
reportedly vent sodium vapor when it orbits close enough to the sun,
according to a study published in the Planetary Science Journal last month.
The asteroid could have activity similar to a comet while in orbit, according to the study.
The primary difference between asteroids and comets is that the latter contain lots of different ices, whereas asteroids are mainly made of rock.
The icy surfaces vaporize when a comet heats up while getting close
to the sun. As for the Phaethon asteroid in particular, the article
states that this is due to sodium being heated to such an extent as it
passes Mercury in its orbit around the sun that may be fizzing from the
asteroid into outer space.
Earth from space (credit: NASA)It was previously thought that asteroids lost their sodium when meteoroids broke away from the asteroid
as small pieces of debris. The researchers behind this study now
believe that an asteroid's sodium can vaporize if close enough to the
sun.
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