Q. What are Iris and Massalia, recently mentioned in the news?
Answer:
Asteroids
Notes: Iris and Massalia are asteroids that have similar orbits and are potentially the first asteroids in our solar system to have confirmed water. Iris is 124 miles in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids in our solar system. It orbits between Mars and Jupiter and is the fourth brightest object in the asteroid belt. Massalia is 84 miles in diameter and is similar in size to Iris. Scientists using SOFIA's infrared telescope discovered molecular water on the asteroids. The water could be stored in multiple ways, such as trapped in silicate glass beads or stuck to the silicates' surface.