Organic Matter on Dwarf Planet Ceres More Abundant than Thought
A new analysis of data collected by NASA's Dawn orbiter suggests that organic molecules may exist in surprisingly high concentrations on the surface of Ceres. The study [DOI: 10.1029/2018GL077913] [DX] appears in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
[...] To get an initial idea of how abundant those compounds might be, researchers compared the [Visible and Infrared Spectrometer] data from Ceres with lab reflectance spectra of organic material formed on Earth. Based on that standard, they concluded that 6-10% of the spectral signature they detected on Ceres could be explained by organic matter.
But for this the new study, Southwest Research Institute researcher Hannah Kaplan and co-authors wanted to re-examine those data using a different standard. Instead of relying on Earth rocks to interpret the data, they turned to an extraterrestrial source: meteorites. Some meteorites have been shown to contain organic material that's slightly different from what's commonly found on our own planet. And the new analysis shows that the spectral reflectance of the extraterrestrial organics is distinct from that of terrestrial counterparts. [...] "We estimate that as much as 40-50% of the spectral signal we see on Ceres is explained by organics. That's a huge difference compared to the 6-10% previously reported based on terrestrial organic compounds."
[...] There are two competing possibilities for where Ceres' organics may have come from. They could have been produced internally on Ceres and then exposed on the surface, or they could have been delivered to the surface by an impact from an organic-rich comet or asteroid.
Previously: Organic Molecules Found on Ceres
Related: Dawn Spies Magnesium Sulphate and Possible Geological Activity on Ceres
Ceres May Have Had a Global Surface Ocean in the Past
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Saturday June 16 2018, @09:43PM (3 children)
"There are two competing possibilities for where Ceres' organics may have come from. They could have been produced internally on Ceres and then exposed on the surface, or they could have been delivered to the surface by an impact from an organic-rich comet or asteroid."
Cos it couldn't possibly be both. Nope.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 3, Informative) by Nerdfest on Saturday June 16 2018, @11:38PM (1 child)
Well, if you're going to be pedantic, "or" logically states that's possible. So there.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Sunday June 17 2018, @01:12AM
OR, it was brought there on the boots of one of the SG teams. I, for one, blame Daniel. Well, why not!
I'd blame Major Carter if I got to spank her.
:)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 17 2018, @12:32AM
You forgoy the most likely possibiluty, it is simply the local waste dumping site for the alien base.
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Sunday June 17 2018, @12:53AM (1 child)
Not surprised some of my teen aged semen made it that far.
I haven't had a boner that actually hurt for a good 40 years now. sigh.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 17 2018, @03:06AM
Look up thunders place on the internet. You can definitely cure erection issues.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 17 2018, @03:49PM
When I was in college I was told that organic chemistry is all the chemistry of carbon. An organic molecule is any molecule that includes carbon atoms.
Titan has organic lakes. Venus has an organic atmosphere. "Organic" molecules are everywhere. There have even been sugar molecules (C+H+O, therefore organic) detected in the space between the stars.
Blah.