2023-09-18 16:33:07
NASA scientists have predicted when the asteroid Bennu could make contact with Earth and devastate everything within a 1,000 km radius. Their mission focuses on solutions to avoid catastrophe.
This asteroid passes close to Earth every six years, but scientists have managed to certify that one day in September 2182, Bennu will hit the blue planet.
According to the magazine Sciencedespite the risk mentioned, NASA remains optimistic about the low percentage chance of the catastrophe occurring.
What do scientists know about this asteroid?
After several years of analysis, scientists from the American space agency have managed to provide certain details regarding the threat hovering above the Earth. The Osiris-REx spacecraft reached Bennu in 2018 and followed it until 2020, allowing us to learn more about its composition, in particular thanks to a fragment of dust that it was able to take from the asteroid. It would have formed beyond Jupiter, in the early days of the solar system. It could allow scientists to better understand how planets form.
According to Richard Burns, project manager for Osiris-REx at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Bennu is one kilometer wide, or one-twentieth the size of the asteroid, having wiped out the dinosaurs. According to him, if it were to crash into Earth, Bennu could devastate everything up to 965,606 km from the impact site. Enough to compare with the force of 22 atomic bombs. Fortunately, it is not big enough to cause the world to become extinct.
If we go by the scientists’ calculations, the impact should take place on September 24, 2182. NASA described this probability as being of an “extremely small chance”. The group wants to be reassuring, so as not to panic the population.
“I don’t think we need to do anything”
Scientists are categorical, there is no need to worry. Initially, the impact could only take place in the 22nd century, a very distant time. Then, according to a document shared by the Osiris-REx scientific team last month, the chance of this asteroid hitting Earth is 0.037%.
Planetary scientist Lindley Johnson of NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office is very reassuring, “I don’t think we need to do anything about Bennu.” However, it remains one of the most threatening asteroids and will continue to be monitored.
The space agency also explained that new data from the same scientific team’s spacecraft made it possible to better model the evolution of Bennu’s orbit over time. Enough to facilitate the work of researchers wishing to deviate from its trajectory.
In agreement with observations from telescopes on Earth, the next closest flyby of the asteroid will take place on September 25, 2135. However, its trajectory is not clear and may vary during the same year.
Scientists have also considered the worst-case scenario, in which Bennu’s impact with Earth would be certain by 2135, but they remain optimistic. Johnson explained that “multiple kinetic impactors could divert Bennu from a collision.” A feasible solution, within 50 years, he said.
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