A new study has revealed that an asteroid named “the baby of Lucy” is only between 2 and 3 million years old. The asteroid was discovered in November by a NASA spacecraft and orbits another asteroid called Dinkinesh. Researchers from Cornell University used novel statistical calculations based on dynamics to estimate the age of the asteroid named Selam. This new method complements traditional methods such as analyzing surface craters and does not require expensive spacecraft for close-up images, making it more versatile.
The researchers calculated that Selam formed from surface material ejected by Dinkinesh and reached its current state after around 3 million years. Binary asteroids like Selam and Dinkinesh are complex objects that engage in a tug-of-war due to gravity and radiation from the Sun. This age estimation method can be applied to other binary systems with well-characterized dynamics, providing valuable information about their formation and evolution.
The age of the asteroid Selam is younger than the fossil of the human ancestor it is named after, a 3-year-old girl found in Ethiopia that is 3.3 million years old. Selam’s age suggests continuous creation of binary asteroid systems and contributes to our understanding of the dynamics of these fascinating objects. The researchers now aim to apply their method to other binary systems and contribute to the field of asteroid research. NASA’s mission Lucy is set to study Trojan asteroids in Jupiter’s orbit in 2027, further advancing our knowledge of the solar system.