Visiting Spacecraft OSIRIS-REx Finds Surprises At Bennu Asteroid Written 20 March 2019
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CBS News reports that NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft “flying in close formation with a tiny asteroid named Bennu, has found clear signs of water-rich clays on its rock-strewn surface, as well as another mineral – magnetite – that forms in aqueous environments, project scientists said Tuesday.” OSIRIS-REx “also observed repeated outbursts that send small particles and pebbles shooting away into space,” which indicates that “scientists now know” Bennu “is an ‘active asteroid,’ one of a small number of small bodies that exhibit the unexplained behavior.” OSIRIS-REx Principal Investigator Dante Lauretta said that Bennu is “creating its own set of natural satellites.” Added Lauretta, “Basically, it looks like Bennu has a continuous population of particles raining down on it from discrete ejection events across its surface.”
More Info (CBS News)
More Info (CBS News)