Asteroid Bennu
7 videos • 1 views • by Stellar Ocean Bennu, a carbon-rich asteroid, measures approximately one-third of a mile (half a kilometer) in width at its equator. This ancient celestial body offers a glimpse into the history of our solar system, with a record spanning over 4.5 billion years. Researchers believe that Bennu's current composition took shape within the first 10 million years of our solar system's formation. Approximately 700 million to 2 billion years ago, Bennu likely separated from a much larger carbon-rich asteroid. It is presumed to have originated within the main asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter but has since migrated closer to Earth. Given its age, Bennu could potentially harbor organic molecules that bear similarities to those involved in the genesis of life on Earth. Bennu's average orbital distance from the Sun is roughly 105 million miles (168 million kilometers), a distance only slightly greater than Earth's average orbital distance of 93 million miles. #nasa #asteroidbennu #osirisrexmission #osirisrex