Water Found in Space Rock
Credit & Copyright: Michael E. Zolensky
(JSC) et al.,
NASA
Explanation:
What would you do if it rained blue water from space?
On 1998 March 22, no
umbrella was needed, as the blue water
came attached to a stony
meteorite that landed in
Monahans,
Texas.
The
meteorite fall was seen by several boys, and was being
carefully scrutinized by NASA scientists within 72 hours.
The
scientists discovered an unusual patch of
salt crystals on the meteorite's surface, turned blue by
radiation in space.
Inside the blue crystals was an even bigger surprise - small droplets of
water.
One of these water droplets is visible near the very center of the
above photograph.
Water is a key factor in
life, and this drop of water most likely dates from
4.5 billion years ago - from the early days of the
Solar System.
How salt and water came to be attached to this
asteroid chip still remains speculative.
What did the boys
do with the meteorite? First they lent it to
NASA.
Then they sold it on the Internet.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
