Snowman Asteroid's Formation Explained: Gravitational Collapse Unveiled
Astronomers have shed light on the formation of Arrokoth, a snowman-shaped asteroid in the Kuiper Belt. A new study reveals that these contact binaries form through gravitational collapse, challenging previous assumptions about their creation.
In a groundbreaking paper, researchers ran 54 simulations to demonstrate how gentle collisions among particles lead to the formation of such objects. This process, akin to that seen in supernovae, suggests a non-violent origin for Arrokoth. While the findings are promising, only a small percentage of simulations produced contact binaries, indicating further research is needed. What do you think about this discovery?
#Astrophysics #SpaceNews #Arrokoth
https://gizmodo.com/yes-gravity-made-these-space-snowmen-no-its-not-that-simple-2000724528