Asteroid Bennu is a near-Earth asteroid (NEA) that is potentially hazardous. It was discovered in 1999 and is named after the Bennu bird, an ancient Egyptian mythological bird associated with the Sun, creation, and rebirth. Bennu is about 1,614 feet (492 meters) wide and has a fairly regular shape that looks a bit like a spinning top.[Image of Asteroid Bennu]

Asteroid Bennu is a near-Earth asteroid (NEA) that is potentially hazardous. It was discovered in 1999 and is named after the Bennu bird, an ancient Egyptian mythological bird associated with the Sun, creation, and rebirth. Bennu is about 1,614 feet (492 meters) wide and has a fairly regular shape that looks a bit like a spinning top.

[Image of Asteroid Bennu]

Bennu is an active asteroid, sporadically emitting plumes of particles and rocks as large as 10 cm (3.9 in). Scientists hypothesize that the releases may be caused by thermal fracturing, volatile release through dehydration of phyllosilicates, pockets of subsurface water, and/or meteoroid impacts.

Bennu is also thought to be a very old asteroid, with materials that date back to the early days of our solar system. This makes it a valuable target for scientific study, as it could provide insights into the formation and evolution of planets and other celestial bodies.

In 2016, NASA launched the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to study Bennu. The spacecraft arrived at Bennu in December 2018 and spent the next two years surveying the asteroid and collecting data. In October 2020, OSIRIS-REx briefly touched down on Bennu and collected a sample of material for return to Earth. The spacecraft is scheduled to return to Earth in September 2023.

The OSIRIS-REx mission has already revealed a number of surprising facts about Bennu. For example, scientists discovered that the asteroid's surface is very soft and loosely bound. They also found that Bennu is actively shedding particles into space.

The return of the Bennu sample to Earth is eagerly anticipated by scientists around the world. The sample could provide new insights into the composition and history of the asteroid, and help us to better understand the potential hazards posed by NEAs.