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Topic:asteroid bennu

asteroid bennu

Since 2021, aggregated from related topics

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    Asteroid Bennu is a near-Earth asteroid with a diameter of about 500 meters. It is believed to be a primitive carbonaceous asteroid, meaning it contains organic compounds and water-bearing minerals that can give scientists insights into the early solar system and the potential for life on other planets. Bennu has been of particular interest to researchers because of its potentially hazardous orbit, with a small chance of impacting Earth in the late 22nd century. As a result, NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission was launched to study Bennu up close, collect a sample of the asteroid's surface material, and bring it back to Earth for further analysis. The mission has provided valuable data on Bennu's composition, structure, and history, shedding light on the formation and evolution of asteroids and their potential threat to Earth. Studying asteroids like Bennu can also help scientists develop strategies for deflecting or mitigating the impact of potentially dangerous asteroids in the future.

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