Rosetta Mission Finds That Comets May Not Be The Source Of Earth's Water
- 9 years ago
Scientists involved with the Rosetta Mission are saying that contrary to popular belief, comets are not the source of water on Earth.
The theory that Earth got its water via delivery by a comet has been a popular one for some time, but not everybody’s on board with that explanation.
In fact, scientists involved with the Rosetta Mission, which landed an exploratory craft on the surface of Comet 67P, are now saying that comets are an unlikely source candidate.
Upon analyzing data sent from the comet’s surface they found that the water composition there doesn’t match the make-up of what’s here.
67P’s, it turns out, is much heavier.
Earth does have some weightier water molecules, which occur when one of the hydrogen atoms is replaced by a deuterium one.
Only 3 deuterium atoms are found in every 10 thousand water molecules though, and the ratio isn’t something that’s easily changed.
Though the Rosetta group has largely ruled out the possibility, others in the scientific community believe that the conclusion is a bit hasty.
It’s been noted that 67P isn’t the only comet to have ever been examined.
Professor Humberto Campins of the University of Central Florida in Orlando pointed out that water ratios matching Earth have been analyzed on others, and the speeding orbs in general shouldn’t be ruled out quite yet.
The theory that Earth got its water via delivery by a comet has been a popular one for some time, but not everybody’s on board with that explanation.
In fact, scientists involved with the Rosetta Mission, which landed an exploratory craft on the surface of Comet 67P, are now saying that comets are an unlikely source candidate.
Upon analyzing data sent from the comet’s surface they found that the water composition there doesn’t match the make-up of what’s here.
67P’s, it turns out, is much heavier.
Earth does have some weightier water molecules, which occur when one of the hydrogen atoms is replaced by a deuterium one.
Only 3 deuterium atoms are found in every 10 thousand water molecules though, and the ratio isn’t something that’s easily changed.
Though the Rosetta group has largely ruled out the possibility, others in the scientific community believe that the conclusion is a bit hasty.
It’s been noted that 67P isn’t the only comet to have ever been examined.
Professor Humberto Campins of the University of Central Florida in Orlando pointed out that water ratios matching Earth have been analyzed on others, and the speeding orbs in general shouldn’t be ruled out quite yet.