Catch it if you can

[Nik]

An asteroid worth thousands times more than the entire global economy? Yes, here it is: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecar...
A call to action for all modern adventurers and gold diggers.
Can we expect a space/asteroid rush at some point: what do you think?

[Ian]

I wrote a blog post on this item (ianmillerblog.wordpress.com) on October 28. My advice - be wary of investing.

As for asteroid Psyche, that story is based on an old measurement of its density that gave the answer over 7, which meant it had to be almost solid iron. However there are other measurements that go down to 1.4, which make it approaching pumice and most settle around 3.7, which is largely basalt with maybe a bit of iron. The problem is, it is small, a long way away, and you have to measure two things, and both are riddled with possible errors. My blog post gives more details :-)

[Nik]

Ian wrote: "...The problem is, it is small, a long way away, and you have to measure two things, and both are riddled with possible errors. My blog post gives more details :-)..."

Still sounds like a sure way to overtake Bezos & a few more. Paused for a sec, but returned to fueling ...... with bourbon in the meantime :)

[Scout]

Ian, very interesting. I wish your blog could send automatic updates to my email. I keep forgetting to check in.

[Ian]

If someone could tell me how to do it, I would. But in general, I post on Thursdays, my time.

[Scout]

Okay, will make the effort to check in. I do get updates from another member's blog when she posts, so there's a way. I'll check with her.

[Philip]

If blog is linked to GR blog then it should update automatically and if you follow Ian on GR then you should get notifications.

[Graeme]

Latest scientific paper for Psyche 16 - still looks likely to be solid Iron.

REF: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10...

[Ian]

Graeme wrote: "Latest scientific paper for Psyche 16 - still looks likely to be solid Iron.

REF: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10..."

The paper cites the density as 3.99, which if it were iron it would have to be rather frothy and how do you froth iron during planetary formation? It either melts or it is dust. The reflectance spectra is also consistent with 10% iron dust or iron oxide. Sorry, I don't buy "pure iron". I am also unhappy about using infrared spectra with such poor signal resolution that way, particularly since in my career I have had a very frustrating time with better resolved spectra than those. They even quote some reference to the detection of hydroxyl, and that could not occur on a solid iron body. It may have iron dust scattered over its surface though.

Psyche apparently has two huge craters. An iron body wouldn't form those because it would prefer to deform, and in a collision, it would be far more elastic. (Craters are formed by the rock pulverizing by being brittle.)

[Graeme]

Indeed, Ian.