Japanese scientists found carbonaceous chondrites on Ryugu asteroid

The photos taken by the Japanese probe "Hayabusa-2", very interested scientists. They identified carbonaceous chondrites - a common type of meteorites, which is observed in vivo for the first time.

Chondrites are types of meteorites that contain spherical or elliptical inclusions. Most often they consist of silicates, although other options are possible.

The chemical composition of chondrites is similar to the composition of the “heavy” fraction of the Sun: there is no hydrogen and helium. According to scientists, they formed simultaneously with the main star of the solar system.

Carbon chondrites are characterized by a high content of iron and carbon. They also have a dark color, which, in fact, allowed them to be identified in the photographs. Also important here is the fact that Ryugu belongs to carbon asteroids.

The pictures were taken by the MASCOT robot, which sank to the surface of the asteroid on October 3, 2018 and worked there for 17 hours.

The task of Hayabusa 2 is to take soil samples from Ryugu. The full success of the mission can only be said after the samples have been delivered to Earth.