near earth object
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Pieces of Asteroid Bennu Land at the Smithsonian After 200 Million Mile Voyage
After travelling through space for 200 million miles, rocky pieces from asteroid Bennu were dropped off on Earth by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in late September. Now, some of those fragments will be put on display for museum-goers to observe firsthand. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History will unveil the first public display of the…
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Scientists Spot Black Dust and Debris on Canister Containing Asteroid Sample
Following a nearly three-year journey through space, the canister containing samples from asteroid Bennu has finally been opened. The OSIRIS-REx mission team removed the initial lid of the sample canister, which was placed inside a glovebox to keep out contaminants, on Tuesday at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, the space agency announced. Once the…
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NASA Transports Mock Asteroid Sample as It Prepares for OSIRIS-REx Return
After landing on an asteroid nearly three years ago to scoop up a sample from its rocky surface, the OSIRIS-REx mission is finally in the homestretch. NASA is preparing for the special delivery of the rocky sample next month and the agency just pulled off the most realistic rehearsal for the big day. From July…
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Take a Look at These 8 Epic Photos of Asteroids Seen up Close
Asteroids come in all shapes and sizes; some are large enough to earn the title of dwarf planet, while others are about ostrich-sized. These wandering rocks are incredibly important objects for scientists seeking information about the formation of the solar system and even life on Earth. Some meteorites (the space rocks that fall to Earth)…