NASA scientists have just published the latest and most accurate image of the planetoid Bennu. It has been explored since the end of last year by the OSIRIS-REx probe. Soon, her samples will be sent to the Earth for research purposes.

The picture is breathtaking, because it is the most accurate view of this mysterious and dangerous object that we have seen so far. NASA reports that the image was taken by a probe just 690 meters from the surface of the rock.

Bennu planetoid will potentially be a threat to our planet in 2135. The probability that Bennu will collide with our planet then is only 1: 2,700, but despite this fact, astronomers do not underestimate the whole situation, because if cosmic rocks are involved, Nothing is certain until the end.

Bennu is a cosmic rock with a diameter of 560 meters, weighs 70 million tons, moves at a speed of 28 km / s, circulates the Sun every 437 days and is on the collision line with the Earth, approaching us every 6 years. Striking her on our planet would cause an explosion of 1.15 gigatonnes TNT, about 23 times greater than the largest hydrogen bomb explosion. Once OSIRIS-REx finishes Bennu planetoid research, we will get accurate estimates and on the basis of them scientists will create a plan of action for future missions to neutralize cosmic rocks.

Source: GeekWeek.pl/NASA
Photo: NASA