The Geologic Impact of 16 Psyche’s Surface Temperatures

Bierson, C. J.; Elkins‐Tanton, L. T.; O’Rourke, J. G.

doi:10.3847/psj/ac83a7

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 62 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…If Psyche had undergone a mantle stripping impact event previously, our time zero would represent the time of silicate layer solidification post‐mantle stripping event. Additionally, each model has a zero flux central boundary condition as well as a top boundary set to the approximate present‐day average Psyche surface temperature of 137 K (Bierson et al., 2022; Sori et al., 2017). We use a constant radial cell size of 500 m, defined as the distance between discrete points in space where the temperature is calculated, and the spherical radius of each model is calculated such that the modeled mass matches that of Psyche (2.3 × 10 19 kg; Elkins‐Tanton et al., 2020).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Moment of Inertia and Tectonic Record of Asteroid 16 Psyche May Reveal Interior Structure and Core Solidification Processes

Nichols‐Fleming,

Evans,

Johnson

et al. 2024

JGR Planets

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The thermal and chemical evolution of (16) Psyche would have been influenced by the direction of core solidification and thickness of an outer (rocky) silicate layer. We model the thermal evolution and core solidification of Psyche for a range of outer silicate layer thicknesses and core sulfur contents to calculate the resulting radial contraction and moments of inertia. We generally find that increasing the thickness of the outer silicate layer by 10 km results in a ∼1‐km reduction in total radial contraction. Additionally, we find that the timing of full core solidification, and thus a large amount of predicted contraction, can differ by up to 25 Myr for inward versus outward core growth. Finally, our calculated moment‐of‐inertia factors for models with inward core growth that contain sulfur are consistently larger than those with outward core growth. Ultimately, spacecraft‐derived estimates of Psyche's moment of inertia and surface contraction will be able to provide constraints on Psyche's interior evolution, silicate layer thickness, and direction of core solidification.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Moment of Inertia and Tectonic Record of Asteroid 16 Psyche May Reveal Interior Structure and Core Solidification Processes

Nichols‐Fleming,

Evans,

Johnson

et al. 2024

JGR Planets

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Laboratory experiments indicate that cratering in iron‐nickel meteorites and ingots can produce small metal fragments resembling rocky regolith (Christoph et al., 2021; Marchi et al., 2020). Moreover, Psyche's large obliquity (95°) and moderately high eccentricity (0.134) may lead to large thermal variations which can cause cracking of metallic boulders (Bierson et al., 2022). However, remote‐sensing data suggest that Psyche's upper meter consists of a porous unconsolidated mixture of metal‐rich and silicate materials (Cambioni et al., 2022; de Kleer et al., 2021; Landsman et al., 2018; Matter et al., 2013; Shepard et al., 2021).…”

Section: Additional Value Of the Psyche Missionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Post‐Launch Summary of the Science of NASA's Psyche Mission

Dibb,

Asphaug,

Bell

et al. 2024

AGU Advances

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Astronomical observations indicate that asteroid (16) Psyche is a large, high‐density (likely >3,400 kg·m−3), metal‐rich (30–55 vol. %) asteroid. Psyche may be remnant core material or it could be a primordial, undifferentiated metal‐rich object. We discuss the science objectives of the upcoming Psyche mission, which will employ three instruments (the Magnetometer, Multispectral Imager, and Gamma‐Ray and Neutron Spectrometer) and will use Doppler tracking of the spacecraft to explore the asteroid. This mission will shed light on the nature and origins of metal‐rich objects in the solar system and beyond, including the cores of the terrestrial planets.

show abstract

“…The temperature of the largest M‐type asteroid, Psyche, is around ∼150 K (Bierson et al., 2022). For a metallic body around the size of Psyche, a disruptive collision may lead to a global temperature increase of ∼150 K (Keil et al., 1997).…”

Section: Compaction Of Metal Bouldersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cold Compaction and Macro‐Porosity Removal in Rubble‐Pile Asteroids: 1. Theory

2022

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Many asteroids are likely to be have been shattered by collisions into fragments and reaccumulated as gravitationally‐bound rubble piles. These bodies may contain large porosities, although this picture may be complicated by compaction inside the asteroid body. Estimates of asteroid mass and volume imply a negative correlation between size and porosity for stony asteroids. Asteroids that are suspected to be metallic appear to contain larger porosities than stony asteroids of similar sizes. To understand these observations, we develop models for cold compaction of fragments of different materials. The initial boulder size distributions are assumed to be narrow. We focus on macro‐porosity between the boulders and do not consider micro‐porosity inside the boulders. In our model of silicate/chondritic boulders, compaction is assumed to occur through cataclastic fracturing, which creates small pieces that fill the pores between residual large boulders, leading to fractal‐like distributions. This fracturing occurs when compression leads to stresses exceeding the tensile strength of the boulders. Combining this model with data on meteorite strength, we suggest that the compaction of chondritic boulders can be significant at pressures of several megapascals. In our model of metal boulders, we consider cold welding and boulder deformation (through ductile yielding or brittle‐like fracturing, depending on the stress and intrinsic crack size). Given the properties of iron meteorites, we infer that compaction in metallic rubble piles, caused by ductile or brittle deformation, is small, and that cold welding may lead to large (≳50%) porosities if the boulders are of ∼1 m sizes.

show abstract

The Geologic Impact of 16 Psyche’s Surface Temperatures

Cited by 4 publications

References 62 publications

Moment of Inertia and Tectonic Record of Asteroid 16 Psyche May Reveal Interior Structure and Core Solidification Processes

Moment of Inertia and Tectonic Record of Asteroid 16 Psyche May Reveal Interior Structure and Core Solidification Processes

A Post‐Launch Summary of the Science of NASA's Psyche Mission

Cold Compaction and Macro‐Porosity Removal in Rubble‐Pile Asteroids: 1. Theory

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About