This asteroid is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and is composed primarily of iron and nickel. It has a diameter of approximately 140 miles and is thought to be the exposed core of an early protoplanet that never fully formed.

Due to its unique composition and potential economic value, 16 Psyche has attracted significant interest from space exploration agencies and private companies around the world. NASA is planning a mission to send a probe to the asteroid in 2022 to study its composition and determine its potential for mining.