Evidence of water found in the outskirts of the solar system
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Composite image of the primordial contact binary Kuiper Belt Object 2014 MU69 (nicknamed Ultima Thule). Source: Wikipedia
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American scientists have found evidence of the water on the surface of the Ultima Thule which is located about 4 billion miles away from Earth. American Space Agency NASA has published the first profile of Ultima Thule in its Science Journal, in which the presence of a mixture of ice, methanol and organic molecules found on its surface has been found. Ultima Thule is the most distant terrestrial object ever discovered by human beings.
The object called "MU 69", in the Kuiper Belt (a remote part of space), has been named Ultima Thule. NASA's New Horizons Spacecraft gathered data of this object during its new year's flight in 2019, and after analyzing the first set of this data, much more information about the complexities of space were known.
An analysis of this set has revealed a lot about the development, geology and composition of Ultima Thule, which includes special marks on its surface, huge mountain like structures and pits formed by volcanic eruptions. The surface of this body is deep red just like other asteroids of the Kuiper Belt. The reason behind this is considered to be the presence of organic elements on its surface.
Interested in an 8km wide crater on its surface :
Researchers are also studying the characteristics of the surface of Ultima Thule. They have found the evidence of a crater similar to that formed by a volcanic eruption, which is about 8 kilometers wide. It is named after the Maryland Crater and it is believed that it is formed as a result of its collision with some other large asteroid on its surface.
Journey of New Horizons has Not Yet Ended:
The journey of NASA's space shuttle New Horizons, after giving the data of Ultima Thule, is not over yet. The Spacecraft, which reached approximately 6.6 billion kilometers away from Earth, is still sending new data from the Kuiper Belt. According to NASA, the Spacecraft is working perfectly in normal condition and it is moving at a speed of about 5,000 kilometers per hour in the Kuiper Belt.
Ultima Thule At a glance:
- Located 4 billion miles away from Earth
- 36 kilometers wide
- The complete data will reach earth by 2020.
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