Recent replenishment of aliphatic organics on Ceres from a large subsurface reservoir.
Sci Adv
; 10(39): eadp3664, 2024 Sep 27.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39321287
ABSTRACT
Ceres hosts notable aliphatic-organic concentrations, ranging from approximately 5 to >30 weight % in specific surface areas. The origins and persistence of these organics are under debate due to the intense aliphatic organic signature and radiation levels in Ceres' orbit, which would typically lead to their destruction, hindering detection. To investigate this, we conducted laboratory experiments to replicate how the signature of the organic-rich regions would degrade due to radiation. Our findings indicate a fast degradation rate, implying the exposure of buried organics within the past few million years. This degradation rate, coupled with observed quantities, implies that the aliphatics must be present in substantial quantities within the shallow subsurface. Our estimates suggest an initial aliphatic abundance 2 to 30 times greater than currently observed, surpassing significantly the levels found in carbonaceous chondrites, indicating either a significant concentration or remarkable purity.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Sci Adv
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Itália