Scientists Uncover Rare C-type Asteroid Origin Beyond Jupiter

Aug 15, 2024, 08:35 PM

Scientists have discovered new evidence regarding the origins of the asteroid that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. The Chicxulub impactor, responsible for creating a massive crater off the coast of Mexico, is now believed to have been a carbonaceous chondrite, a rare type of meteorite. This C-type asteroid likely originated from beyond the orbit of Jupiter, in the outer regions of the solar system. The findings, published in the journal Science, were based on isotope analysis, which revealed the impactor's exceptionally rare origin. This discovery resolves the long-standing debate about whether the extinction event was caused by a comet or an asteroid.