Astronomy Picture of the Day

                         Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! [1] Each day a different image or photograph of our
 fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a
                           professional astronomer.

                               2018 November 13
                   Rotating Asteroid Bennu from OSIRIS-REx
              Image Credit: NASA [2] , GSFC [3] , U. Arizona [4]

Explanation: Could this close-by asteroid ever hit the Earth? Eventually yes
-- but probably not for a very long time, even though the asteroid is expected
to pass inside the orbit of the Moon next century. However, to better
understand [5] the nature and orbit of all near-Earth asteroids, NASA sent the
robotic Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security,
Regolith Explorer [6] (OSIRIS-REx) to investigate this one: the 500-meter
across asteroid 101955 Bennu [7] . Launched [8]  in 2016, OSIRIS-REx [9] is
now approaching Bennu, and is first scheduled to map the minor planet [10] 's
rough surface. The featured time-lapse video [11]  taken earlier this month
compacts Bennu [12] 's 4.25-hour rotation period into about 7 seconds. Bennu's
diamond-like appearance is similar to asteroid Ryugu [13]  currently being
visited by the Japan [14] ese spacecraft Hayabusa2 [15] . The exact future
orbit of Bennu [16]  is a bit uncertain [17]  due to close passes near the
Earth and the Yarkovsky effect [18] : a slight force [19] created by an
object's rotationally-induced, asymmetric infrared [20]  glow. If all goes
according to plan [21] , ORISIS-Rx will actually touch the asteroid in 2020,
collect soil samples, and return them to Earth [22]  in 2023 for detailed
analyses.

                        Tomorrow's picture: blue cave

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    Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff [34] (MTU [35] ) & Jerry Bonnell [36]
                                  (UMCP [37] )
          NASA Official:  Phillip Newman Specific rights apply [38] .
              NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices [39]
              A service of: ASD [40]  at NASA [41]  / GSFC [42]
                           & Michigan Tech. U. [43]
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Site notes:
  [1] archivepix.html
  [2] https://www.nasa.gov/
  [3] https://www.nasa.gov/goddard
  [4] https://www.lpl.arizona.edu/research/orex
  [5] https://www.nasa.gov/feature/why-bennu-10-rea...
  [6] https://www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex
  [7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101955_Bennu
  [8] ap161017.html
  [9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSIRIS-REx
  [10] https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/small-bodies/ast...
  [11] https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/20...
  [12]
https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/science-tick...
osiris-rex-snaps-first-images-asteroid-bennu
  [13] ap180625.html
  [14] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan
  [15] ap181101.html
  [16] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtUgarROs08
  [17]
https://playnstaypetcamp.com/wp-content/uploa...
  [18] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarkovsky_effec...
  [19] https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11964
  [20] https://science.nasa.gov/ems/07_infraredwaves
  [21] https://www.asteroidmission.org/mission/
  [22] ap181104.html
  [23] ap181112.html
  [24] archivepix.html
  [25] lib/apsubmit2015.html
  [26] lib/aptree.html
  [27] https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apo...
  [28] calendar/allyears.html
  [29] /apod.rss
  [30] lib/edlinks.html
  [31] lib/about_apod.html
  [32] http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?dat...
  [33] ap181114.html
  [34] http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  [35] http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  [36] https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnel...
  [37] http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  [38] lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  [39] https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Priv...
  [40] https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  [41] https://www.nasa.gov/
  [42] https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  [43] http://www.mtu.edu/

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