News Planetary Science

Samples of the asteroid Ryugu are scientists’ purest pieces of the solar system

Analysis reveals the asteroid was evolving about 5 million years after the solar system’s start

31 milligrams of dark gray dust and debris from asteroid Ryugu in a white circular sample dish

The 31 milligrams of dust and debris from asteroid Ryugu seen in this photo, along with several other samples, are the most pristine pieces of the solar system scientists have ever studied.

JAXA

By Liz Kruesi

- More than 2 years ago

Samples of the asteroid Ryugu are the most pristine pieces of the solar system that scientists have in their possession.