Scientists name possible date when asteroid Bennu could threaten Earth
Researchers have identified September 24, 2182 as the date when a real collision risk could exist between Earth and the asteroid Bennu, whose impact would be equivalent to 22 atomic bombs. NASA is already working on ways to deflect it.
Astronomers have pinpointed a specific date in the distant future when there would be a real, though small, risk of the asteroid Bennu colliding with Earth. According to researchers' calculations, such a scenario could occur on September 24, 2182.
Bennu is an asteroid that regularly approaches our planet, passing close by roughly once every six years. Although the named date is more than 150 years away, scientists are taking the potential threat seriously and are already working on solutions.
NASA's mission and collected samples
NASA sent a probe to Bennu to collect samples from the asteroid, aiming to better understand its composition and possible ways to deflect it from a collision course with Earth. The probe returned to Earth with the collected samples in 2023, and the material has been under study ever since. NASA's mission is currently in its final phase.
How destructive a collision could be
Should a collision actually occur, the consequences would be significant — experts estimate the force of the impact would be comparable to roughly 22 atomic bombs. It is for this reason that scientists consider it important to study deflection options well in advance, in order to avoid a catastrophic event in the future.
