33 Polyhymnia, an asteroid between Mars and Jupiter with a density higher than the densest element in the periodic table is now fascinating scientists
Discussions about Asteroids are always fascinating. These small rocky objects, sometimes also called minor planets have always been an exciting topic for scientists. There have been times when they have even posed a threat to Mother Earth. It was just last year when NASA successfully launched the Double Asteroid Reduction Test (DART) spacecraft for the deflection of an asteroid named Didymos.
This month, NASA launched the Psyche spacecraft on October 13, 2023, to have its way around the wonders of the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche.
However, these fascinating missions don’t end here. A new interest that now has scientists on their feet is an asteroid called 33 Polyhymnia.
33 Polyhymnia’s point of attraction is that the asteroid is reportedly denser than the heaviest known elements on the periodic table.
The asteroid 33 Polyhymnia posted an unrealistic density of 75.28 g/cm3 on the table according to the researcher who measured it. In comparison, Osmium, the densest naturally occurring stable element on Earth, amounts to a density of 22.59 g/cm3 at room temperature.
Scientists are also of the view that 33 Polyhymnia can mark an atomic number of 164 on the periodic table. As of now the highest atomic number element in the periodic table is 118.
Theoretical research has drawn suggestions that there exists an island of nuclear stability around the atomic number 164.
The said asteroid rests between Mars and Jupiter. It is the same belt, where the Psyche asteroid is located.
NASA’s recent pursuits include efforts to gather samples from asteroids in our Solar System. In the latest developments, they confirmed the presence of water and carbon in the asteroid Bennu.
We can just wonder what these asteroids have in store until scientists bring in new information to mankind.
