NASA has been searching for XXL pieces for years: 60 million-ton asteroid heading towards Earth

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NASA is keeping a close eye on it because it will come dangerously close to Earth: Asteroid Bennu. The length of the celestial body is 800 meters and its weight is 60 million tons. “It would destroy a large part of Berlin,” planetary scientist Jörn Helbert from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is sure in an interview with “Zeit Online”.

A study published in the scientific journal “Icarus” reveals when the mega asteroid will impact the Earth. The good news: It still takes time.

This is why the Osiris Rex mission is so important

Researchers calculated that the risk of a collision by 2300 is 1 in 1750. In previous studies, the probability of a collision was assumed to be 1 in 2,700. According to new calculations, the highest impact risk occurs on September 24, 2182. This Tuesday, the probability is 0.037 percent. In the event of a collision, Bennu would unleash the power of 22 nuclear bombs.

NASA has been investigating the XXL fragment for years and, at best, wants to push it off its accelerated course. A little over a week ago, the Osiris-Rex space probe landed in the desert of the US state of Utah. He brought back to Earth 250 grams of rock and dust samples from his Bennu trip.

Space expert Helbert states that examining samples stored in nitrogen is a challenge in itself. “There are a lot of locks where the Osiris-Rex team now opens the sample box, you have to change it twice, and each time you get a new protective suit. Accordingly, the process takes a long time,” says the expert.

Probe on its way to asteroid Apophis

Helbert emphasizes the importance of the task. It is important “to be able to accurately assess the danger posed by asteroids and to plan potential defenses correctly.” Scientists initially assumed that Bennu would consist of fine dust and sand, but photographs from the Osiris Rex probe showed it to be a huge chunk of rock. “It makes a big difference whether it is a very large piece or whether it breaks apart easily,” explains the expert.

“The longer you know about a threat, the better,” he adds. Therefore, the “Osiris-Rex” probe has already departed for the next asteroid called Apophis. This could also affect our planet in 100 or 200 years.

Source : Blick