NASA has made it clear that Asteroid Bennu is more likely to hit the Earth than expected within the next 300 years. For more than a million years, Bennu had been revolving around the sun in isolation. It shall not make an immediate impact on the Earth. Still, it might hit our planet within the next hundred years.
Some recent scientific research and data from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft have given some raw figures for calculation.
A precise calculation by the researchers of the asteroid’s orbit and its future distance from Earth has been done. A thorough analysis has been made from the present time to till 2300.
A survey has given a single chance in 1,750 chances of a likely crash within the next 300 years. This figure gives an increased chance than earlier research.
The hazardous clash of Bennu might take place in the early 2100 and early 2200. A chance of an impact on the afternoon of September 24, 2182. On that day, there is a one in 2700 chance that the asteroid will collide with Earth.
Some interesting information about Bennu is:-
1. It’s completely dark- Bennu is a B-type asteroid. This indicates that it is made up of carbon and numerous minerals. It reflects only 4% of the light that hits its surface in comparison to 30% by the Earth.
2. It is very old- Bennu has been the same for the last billions of years. It is estimated to have existed in the initial 10 million years of the history of our solar system.
3. It is a “rubble-pile”- Bennu is a rubble pile built from rocky debris. Bennu is full of many holes. 20-40% of bennu’s volume is empty space.
4. It can give clues on the origin of life on Earth– Bennu is made from the materials and molecules that were a part of the Earth during the origin of life on it. Life on Earth came into existence with the bonding of oxygen, nitrogen, Hydrogen, and chains of other elements.
5. Rich in gold and platinum- Bennu is possibly rich inexpensive metals of gold, platinum, present on Earth. Most of the asteroids are not made up of solid metals or elements.
But, some asteroids are made up of metals that are used in industries on Earth. The level of metal extraction possible in space would be decided after a closer study and exploration. But, Bennu can be a good source of costly and rare metals.
6. It is named after an Egyptian deity- Bennu was named by a 9-year-old boy. He won the Name the Asteroid competition. The boy belonged to North Carolina and was named the asteroid in 2013.
The competition was organized by a partnership between the mission, the Planetary Society, and the LINEAR asteroid survey that discovered the asteroid.
He said that the spacecraft resembles Bennu, an ancient Egyptian deity that is portrayed as a grey heron. The deity is connected with the sun and rebirth.
7. Bennu is full of surprises- The spacecraft assigned to navigate Bennu gave several reports of surprise elements on the Asteroid. It is not a rare asteroid inactive state, but among the first ones that are observed and examined by humans on Earth.
It was recently discovered that sunlight can crack the rocks present on that asteroid. Pieces of other asteroids are also spread across Bennu.
The Asteroid Bennu was discovered in 1999. It was distinguished as a likely dangerous asteroid. It is hazardous along with the asteroid 1950 DA.
Scientists believe that comets and asteroids hitting the Earth have a connection to the origin of life on Earth. The organic compounds and water on the surface of Earth facilitating life might have been a result of it.
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