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Strange Asteroids Baffle Scientists

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the science-rocks dept.

Raver32 writes to mention that two nearby asteroids may be evidence of a new class of asteroid or long eroded mini-world. Mineral evidence gathered using photometric data shows these asteroids to contain basalt not normally found in asteroid belt objects. "The lack of basalt and another mineral, olivine, in asteroid belt objects has long puzzled scientists. These two minerals would have formed the crust and mantle, respectively, of belt objects the size of Vesta or larger; theory predicts that more than half of all asteroids should be composed of one or the other of these substances"

6 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. Maybe they're not thinking out of the box. by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's no asteroid....

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  2. More missing stuff by Silver+Sloth · · Score: 3, Funny
    From TFA

    "Roughly 99 percent of the stuff we expect to see [in the asteroid belt] is missing." I'm no astronomer but what with 'dark matter' and now this it seems that an awful lot of the universe is 'missing'.
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  3. New class of asteroid by Joe+Random · · Score: 5, Funny

    two nearby asteroids may be evidence of a new class of asteroid One of the major distinguishing features of this new class of asteroid is that, when leaving the telescope's field of view, they reappear on the opposite edge.
  4. Re:Wish more people would fess up their bafflement by russ1337 · · Score: 3, Funny

    >>> This is why scientists are generally not leaders.

    Oh yeah? Then Explain THIS GUY

  5. Re:Wish more people would fess up their bafflement by king-manic · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sure, because he's obviously the first honest candidate in recorded history.

    Would appearing baffled be enough? The current prez would then take the title. HE appears baffled at every question and then proceeds to answer a different one then the one asked.

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    "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
  6. Re:Hint to the Scientists... by geobeck · · Score: 3, Funny

    Maybe you should run Clippy...

    "I see you're trying to start a flame war by inserting pseudo-religious dogma into a scientific discussion. Can I help you with that?"

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