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asteroid 3200 Phaeton it has a very strange behavior that has puzzled the scientists studying it: it spins faster and faster around its own axis.
The large blue rock, one of the few with this hue, at 5.4 kilometers in diameter, shortens its rotation period by 4 milliseconds, a figure that may seem insignificant, but significant for a star of this size.
What is Phaeton?
Phaeton This is a rock classified as a near-Earth object (NEO), although it does not pose a threat to our planet.
The closest point to the Sun is only 20.9 million km away, which is one third of the orbit of Mercury. In 1983, when it was discovered, the best theory about its color was also modeled: it is so close to the Sun that its surface temperature reaches 800 degrees Celsius, which is enough to vaporize the iron molecules that give other asteroids their reddish tint, and leaving only rocks and minerals that reflect light in bluish tones.
According to experts, several thousand years ago asteroid 3200 phaeton he left behind a dusty trail that is actually responsible for the Geminids. This makes the Geminids unique because most meteor showers come from cometary dust rather than asteroid.
It is being studied very carefully, and thanks to this, a team of scientists led by the Arecibo Observatory and the University of Central Florida noticed unusual behavior. asteroid.
Based on observations from 1989 to 2021, researcher Sean Marshall of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico created a model to study asteroid prior to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) DESTINY+ mission scheduled to launch in 2024.
How has Phaeton changed?
According to scientists, asteroid it makes one revolution around its axis in 3.6 hours. However, its rotation period is shortening by about 4 milliseconds per year.
The scientist suggested that the discrepancy between theory and practice can be explained by a change in the speed of rotation of the asteroid. Perhaps it happened as a result of a collision or “interaction” asteroid with some comet in December 2020.
To date, scientists believe that the rotational speed asteroids it usually does not change unless it is affected by external events.
It is known that in the XXI century. asteroid it will approach the Earth several times: this will happen in 2050, 2060 and 2093. It also approached our planet on December 10, 2007 (flying at a distance of 18.1 million km) and on December 16, 2017 (flying at 10.31204 million km, which is equivalent to 27 distances to the Moon).
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Source: RPP
I’m Liza Grey, an experienced news writer and author at the Buna Times. I specialize in writing about economic issues, with a focus on uncovering stories that have a positive impact on society. With over seven years of experience in the news industry, I am highly knowledgeable about current events and the ways in which they affect our daily lives.