Title: NASA Keeps Close Watch on Potentially Hazardous Asteroid Bennu’s Orbit
Subtitle: Asteroid Bennu, discovered in 1999, could pose a threat to Earth in 159 years’ time
NASA scientists are closely monitoring asteroid Bennu, a 1,610-foot-wide cosmic object that has the potential to collide with Earth on September 24, 2182. First discovered in 1999, Bennu could drift into our planet’s orbit and release a significant amount of energy upon impact, estimated to be 24 times more powerful than the most potent nuclear weapon ever built.
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx science team has identified a slight possibility that Bennu could pass through a gravitational keyhole during a future flyby. This keyhole would act as a set path that would direct the asteroid towards Earth, increasing the chances of impact late in the 22nd century.
ABC News reports that Bennu passes close to Earth every six years and has had previous encounters in 1999, 2005, and 2011. Scientists believe that there is now a 0.037% (1 in 2,700) chance of Bennu colliding with our planet by 2182. Although the probability is relatively low, NASA categorizes Bennu as a potentially hazardous asteroid, capable of coming as close as 4.65 million miles from Earth.
While Bennu remains a potential threat, it holds great scientific importance. Classified as a “near-Earth object,” Bennu is a carbon-rich asteroid that provides valuable insights into the origins and development of rocky planets like Earth. It may also contain organic molecules necessary for the evolution of life.
In 2020, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx successfully completed a mission on Bennu, becoming the first spacecraft to touch the surface of an asteroid, collect samples, and safely return to Earth. The mission, named Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx), aims to further our understanding of asteroids and the early solar system.
As scientists continue to study Bennu and its potential impact on Earth, the data collected will contribute to our knowledge of planetary defense and could aid in the development of strategies to mitigate future asteroid threats.
It is crucial to remain vigilant and proactive in monitoring celestial objects that pose a potential risk to our planet. Through ongoing research and space missions, NASA and its partners ensure our preparedness for possible future encounters with potentially hazardous asteroids like Bennu.