NASA's Bennu asteroid samples reveal how the Solar System formed
In short
- Tiny samples from asteroid Bennu are changing how scientists understand Solar System formation.
- Evidence suggests Bennu formed where inner and outer Solar System material mixed.
- Jupiter appears to have played a surprising role in shaping Bennu's formation.
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The findings come from tiny samples of asteroid Bennu, collected by NASA. They suggest the rock formed where material from the inner and outer Solar System came together. That points to Jupiter shaping the early Solar System in ways scientists did not expect.
From ScienceDaily
Tiny samples from asteroid Bennu are rewriting scientists' understanding of how our Solar System formed. New evidence suggests that Bennu was born where material from the inner and outer Solar System mixed, with Jupiter playing a surprising role in shaping its formation.
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For kids
Far away in space there is a rock called Bennu. NASA brought back tiny pieces of it to study. Scientists now think Bennu was born where pieces from close to the Sun and far from the Sun mixed together. Why do you think a giant planet like Jupiter could change where rocks end up?
