The Sun is Eroding Asteroids - by spacewriter
So, what’s the mechanism for the quick change on asteroid surfaces such as Bennu’s? It’s clear from OSIRIS-REx images that rapid temperature changes are the culprit. Heating and cooling cause internal stress that fractures and breaks down Bennu’s rocks. Think of how ice can crack if you pour hot water over it—it’s a similar action.
How quick is the heating/cooling cycle? Well, the Sun rises every 4.3 hours on Bennu. There’s no atmosphere, so it’s just bombarded with sunshine. At the equator, daytime highs can reach nearly 127 C. At night, temperatures plunge to around -23 C. Given the short day/night cycle on Bennu, it experiences rapid heating and cooling swings.
Another clue to the temperature changes showed up in the actual cracks on the asteroid. Scientists measured the lengths and angles of those cracks and determined they were a clear sign of the temperature shocks between day and night. The fractures predominantly align in the northwest-southeast direction. That indicates they were caused by the Sun, making it a primary force in changing Bennu’s landscape.
It shouldn’t come as any surprise that asteroids such as Bennu can be modified by the Sun. Most worlds in the solar system are affected at some level by our star. Earth certainly experiences solar-induced heating and other changes. And, of course, Earth and other planets experience a wide range of intrinsic surface changes, ranging from landslides, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. They make both short- and long-term alterations to the surface.
“Keep in mind, the topography of Bennu is young,” said Jason Dworkin, OSIRIS-REx project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “But the rocks on the asteroids are still billions of years old and hold valuable information about the beginning of the solar system.”This study of the solar-induced cracking and erosion on Bennu will help scientists estimate how long it takes boulders on asteroids like it to break down into smaller particles.
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