Asteroid Bennu – Astronomy Now

Shotgun-like meteoroid impacts and thermal stress trigger asteroid ejections

9 September 2020 Astronomy Now

Small rocks seen spewing into space from the asteroid Bennu likely were ejected due to thermal stress and shotgun-like meteoroid impacts.

OSIRIS-REx sample collection site selected on asteroid Bennu

16 December 2019 Astronomy Now

Mission planners with NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft have selected a challenging but scientifically rich sample collection site on the asteroid Bennu.

OSIRIS-REx candidate sample collection sites identified

13 August 2019 Astronomy Now

Researchers with NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission have selected four possible sample collection sites on the asteroid Bennu. The team plans to narrow that down to two in December.

OSIRIS-REx is looking for a few good citizen scientists

23 May 2019 Astronomy Now

OSIRIS-REx scientists are asking citizen scientists to help map and count rocks on asteroid Bennu to aid in picking a sample selection site.

OSIRIS-REx images show asteroid Bennu’s rubble pile appearance

13 May 2019 Astronomy Now

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is busy mapping the asteroid Bennu, revealing a remarkably fractured surface littered with countless rocks of varying sizes giving it the appearance of a jumbled rubble pile in space.

Asteroid Bennu surprises with rocky surface and activity

20 March 2019 Astronomy Now

The OSIRIS-REx sample-return spacecraft is finding one surprise after another orbiting asteroid Bennu, including unexpected “ejection events.”

OSIRIS-REx slips into record-close orbit around asteroid

2 January 2019 Astronomy Now

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft slipped into a record-close orbit of the asteroid Bennu on New Year’s Eve, setting the stage for exceedingly close-range observations.

OSIRIS-REx spacecraft detects water-bearing minerals on Bennu

11 December 2018 Astronomy Now

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft now exploring the asteroid Bennu has spotted hydrated minerals across the rocky surface of the ancient body, indicating the action of water in the distant past

OSIRIS-REx captures first clear images of asteroid Bennu

3 November 2018 Astronomy Now

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, closing in on asteroid Bennu, has sent back photos showing a body remarkably similar in appearance to the asteroid Ryugu being studied by Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft.

OSIRIS-REx captures its first images of asteroid Bennu

25 August 2018 Astronomy Now

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has captured its first images of asteroid Bennu at a range of 2.2 million kilometres (4.1 million miles); the probe will slip into orbit around Bennu on New Year’s Eve to kick off a sample-return mission