Lucy Spacecraft Detects Ancient Water Evidence on Asteroid, Prompting Rethink of Formation Theories

NASA's Lucy spacecraft has identified iron phyllosilicates on asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson, indicating the past presence of water. This finding is notable because the asteroid's current orbit in the inner asteroid belt is too warm for water ice to have survived since the early solar system. The discovery suggests the asteroid may have originated in a different, cooler region.